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An evening with SPB

The Hindu, By Akhila Seetharaman, August 3, 2004

The waltzy `O Butterfly' had many among the audience swaying. Even the babies on their parents' laps remained surprisingly quiet.

THE VAST expanse of seats in the stately Kamaraj Memorial Hall, Teynampet appeared respectably full on Saturday evening: a sign that Concern India's latest fund-raising venture was a thorough success.

With no less than S.P. Balasubramaniam on stage, singing everyone's favourite Tamil, Telugu and even some Hindi film songs, the audience had every reason to stay till the very end. Elderly women decked out for the weekend, young women with straightened hair and busy cell phones and groups of young men, were all entranced as `SPB' set the tone for the evening.

Paying tribute to Ilayaraja, the `maestro of orchestration,' SPB performed several of his numbers with a busy orchestra of six violins, two drum sets, an electric guitar, tablas and a synthesizer. The audience applauded on hearing the introductions of popular film songs such as `Raagangal 16,' Andhimazhai, and `Sankarabharanam.' The waltzy `O Butterfly' had many among the audience swaying. Even the babies on their parents' laps remained surprisingly quiet.

"However many instruments he uses, he makes them sound like one voice," said S.P. Balasubramaniam about Ilayaraja, calling him one of the few `full-fledged music composers' in the Tamil music industry.

The programme was inaugurated by Richard Haynes, the U.S. Consul General in Chennai, and compered by Senthil, the host of popular shows on Radio Mirchi. Sponsors included Sri Lankan Airlines, Diviniti, Galatta.com, Nippo Batteries and Pizza Corner.

The event is part of the on-going fund-raising efforts by Concern India, a non-profit, public charitable trust with the objective of `Helping People Help Themselves.'

The organisation works with destitute and orphaned children, deserted and abused women, tribals, the disabled and the aged. The proceeds from the event will go to support these projects, said Nina Rajib Govindan, Fundraising Manager of Concern India.

A fund-raising exhibition of the works of Chennai-based artists is next in the pipeline, and is scheduled for September, she said.

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