1989/1990: I am at school. Watching movies are a strict no-no. Mom thinks they divert attention from studies. But I get to hear the first few lines of this Hindi song on a shopkeeper's transistor radio... "Aate Jaate Hanste Gaate"
I hardly know Hindi. I love the music. Didn't know then whether it was original or not. I get mesmerized by the voice.
1991 or 1992: Still in school. Durga Puja days. Rickety wooden folding chairs in front of the Puja pandal. Hits of new films on loudspeaker. "Tumse Milne Ki Tamanna Hai". I don't get all the lyrics, only some words. But that voice, again.
1992/1993: Everywhere, everyone talks about this new film called 'Roja'. A music director named A R Rahman and his tunes. A handsome actor called Arvind Swamy. I am yet to see the movie.
My sister just bought a Philips Walkman. Our first cassette too, of 'Roja', with Swamy and the red saree-wearing heroine on its cover. "Roja Janeman" is on loop. I still don't know the meaning of "vadiyaan". But I listen to "Yeh Haseen Vadiyaan" so many times that the batteries of the Walkman often run out. Sis not too happy about it.
1994: College days. A long, long film called 'Hum Aapke Hai Kaun' in Hind Cinema, Calcutta. Popular songs, but I don't like any of them. Except the first stanza of "Pehla Pehla Pyar Hai." I sing it often, when no one's around.
1994/95: The pleasant month of February. Buying a cassette for the birthday of a friend. Of assorted film music. I select a cassette just because it has one of my favourite songs. Lyrics are not that great, but the music of "Roop Suhana Lagta Hai" is catchy; and the voices are...amazing.
2002/03: Delhi. Job. Living with friends. Watching a film called "Love" on TV. The movie is just okay. But that voice, again... and another of my all-time favourite songs..."Saathiyan Ye Tune Kya Kiya".
Keep singing, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam sir.
(This post is a tribute to noted singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam who died due to post-Covid complications on 25th September, 2020)
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