'L'ove and 'R'omance Eshwari Wishes to Breath Last Singing

She was the yesteryears' cine goers' heartthrob. Her voice used to make them glued to the seats and at the same time jump in 'joy'. She was branded for 'those' type of songs, during those years. The 'kicking' excellence in her expression filled voice was instrumental in drawing crowds to the cinema houses that resulted into collections for producers, success for directors.

Any performer who was on the screen for her background singing always got another opportunity. The cine poets expressed their impression on her 'style' as that included Gnanpeet Awardee Dr C Narayana Reddy said L stands for Love and R stands for Romance.

Her image and fanfare did not stop there, she is remembered and her voiced songs are hummed even by the young generations of today. She says it was the Almighty's blessing that she was given such an opportunity, to carry along the hearts of music lovers even today.

She definitely is none other than L R Eshwari, as you rightly recalled. Now, what? "Naa Peru Selayeru...", "Theesko Coco Cola...", "Masaka Masaka Cheekatilo...", "Patnamlo Shali Banda..." and many more songs will immediately play their tunes with her voice in one's mind to make them tap their feet. After pushing away decades singing for the big screen, she is still active and says 'I'm fit and will go on singing. I wish to breath last while singing.' She also says that she would never retire from singing and is ready to sing with those standards even today.

Recently, L R Eshwari was in Hyderabad to enthral the audience participating in one of the musical nites being conducted by a cultural organisation here. During her visit, HamaraShehar.com interacted with her to bring many of her feelings from deep inside her heart out into the open. Some excerpts of the interview are here for HamaraShehar.com admirers:

Q: What was the sequence for you entry into cinema industry as singer?

A: My mother Nirmala was a chorus singer in the industry those days. I used to accompany her for recordings. It happened so that I took in the singing groups for chorus for some time. In 1959, renowned music director, composer K V Mahadevan offered me a first opportunity for a solo song in 'Nalla Yedathe Sambandham'. Later, a song from 'Pasumalar' movie was a hit and popular. It was the beginning of my journey in the industry.

Q: Who was model role and inspiration for you to get into the industry?

A: It was my mother. I took inspiration from her and she is perhaps model role even today. She was a good singer. Of course, my interest in music and inclination for singing also helped me settle as a singer.

Q: Do you find rhythm, shruthi and laya in the current trend of music in industry?

A: Hhhmmm...yes. Rhythm, Shruthi and Laya are there. Eventually, instruments are overtaking the voice now days. During my days songs were made fitting to the movie's scene sequence. The lyric and music were of the finest grade.

I never understood the current trend. As they do not have good lyric and instruments are dominating the voice. Even the presentation of songs between the scenes are also not properly tuned to the scene sequences.

Q: How was the atmosphere those days, in the industry?

A: Singers, orchestra, musicians, performers and to take count every one of us were in friendly ties always.

Q: Did you venture into direction anytime?

A: No. Even if I had any opportunity, I am not interested to take up music direction. I will be more satisfied if I fulfil my responsibility as a singer. There is a chance that I may not sing perfectly if I take up direction responsibility. In addition, there is one sentiment in the industry, if I took a chance as music director and the movie did not click, I may not be given any chance to even sing. I believe in not taking any risk.

Q: How many languages did you manage to sing in?

A: Besides Tamil, my mother tongue I sung in 14 Indian languages including Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

Q: Can you tell us most memorable incidents of your life?

A: I am an aficionado of Tamilnadu former Chief Minister Late M G Ramachandran. The memorable event was to receive 'Kalaima Mani', the highest title of the state government through his hands in 1994. I can never forget this for a lifetime.

I was on a stage performance on March 31, 1985 in Tamilnadu. A message reached me that my mother was no more. She is important; somehow I could not leave the stage immediately. The simplest reason was audience were encouraging me more than what I expected. They are the foundation for my career growth. Hence, I continued with the programme. Even this is a lifetime memory.

Q: Do you feel that songs add to the success of a movie?

A: Yes! Definitely! Songs add to the success of a movie. In many circumstances a bigger and important message can be conveyed through a song than a series of scenes and dialogues. By the way, these days audience are drawn to the theatres for the breaking songs and dances. Can you find perfection of story in any movie now days.

Q: Which type of songs appeal to you?

A: Primarily I like melody based songs.

Q: Which Raaga do you like most in music? Similarly, which song of yours?

A: Desh and Dharmavathi Ragas are my favourite ones. Well, all the songs that I gave voice to are my favourites.

Q: Your songs give 'kick' to the audience. Your voice will be husky and romantic while singing. For example, Theesko Coco Cola...was a big crazy hit. How do you react to the spectators' outstanding response to your songs?

A: The movie director and music director used to explain me about the scene and sequence, and how the song should be dealt respectively. The song spot and scene perfectly matched to my voice and singing style. Therefore, it clicked well. I am in fact very happy for the success and acceptance of the song.

Q: Vijaya Lalitha, Jyothi Lakshmi and many others performed to your songs. It appears as if the artistes themselves sung the song, though it is a fact that you were the playback singer for the songs. How was that possible to match the tone so close to perfection?

A: Yes, that is true! However, for all the artistes it was a single voice (mine is it not?). Well the variation in voice will accord the music composing. It all depends on the music creator and in turn composers follow the trend. We tried to meet to the likes of the audiences.

Q: Your songs were not only for the Vamp characters but also for the duets of hero and heroine casts. In some movies your songs for the vamp roles were more hit than the duets. Take for example, 'Masaka Masaka Cheekatilo..' in 'Devudu Chesina Manushulu', 'Le...Le...Naa Raaja...' in 'Prem Nagar' and so on made a permanent impact in the cinema media. Even today spectators are humming them frequently. How do you feel about it?

A: I am always happy for getting an opportunity to sing such songs. In fact, I am proud of those lyrics and singing them. It was all the greatness of the music directors. We were fortunate to have such good music directors those days.

Q: Is there any specific reason, in spite of being recognised as one of the ace singers of golden era of cinema industry not being heard these days?

A: I never declared that I am retiring to stand behind the mike and never said that I will not sing at any point of time. Tamil industry situation is better compared to other language industries. In Tamil now and then I am singing for the industry and also on several stage programmes. This is computer age. With the entry of youngsters and teenagers many are scared to invite elderly figures like me.

Q: During recent times none of the female singers are standing long. What is your opinion about this situation?

A: For the songs of this generation, anyone can sing. They are singing a song in bits and streams. Hence, they are entering and exiting just like that. Whereas during our days, we used to work very hard on every individual song. We all practiced at length to take out the desired modulation. That is lacking in this generation.

Q: You were branded for 'that type' of songs. What were the other 'types' of songs that flowed out from your husky voice?

A: Audiences did the branding. I have many devotional songs in my fold like private audiocassettes like "Sarvam Sakthi Mayam", "Om Sakthi Om" on Goddess Durga Devi, "Hari Hara Sutha Ayyappa" audiocassette on Sabari Malai Ayyappa...and so on. There are many private albums in the market.

Q: What is your life's ambition?

A: To stay in the hearts and minds of audiences as a unforgettable singer, forever. I have to achieve more as a singer. I wish to breath last while singing. That's all.

Q: Do you wish to pronounce some advice to the present day singers?

A: I sincerely do not have anything to advice them. This is because, they are masters themselves and we always remained disciples. Before advising them, they will state that there was no need to tell them, as they knew everything. To the one who finds fault with the person who is speaking to them, can we extend any advice?

Profile

Name: L R Eshwari (Lurth Rajeshwari)
Mother's Name: Nirmala
Education: S.S.L.C.
Cinema Industry Entry: Through 'Nalla Yedathe Sambandham' Tamil movie in 1959 and through 'Jagannatakam' in 1960 in Telugu
Languages Handled: 14 Languages
Favourite Singers: Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Ghantasala, P Susila
Favourite Artistes: S V Ranga Rao, Akkineni Nageshwara Rao, Savithri
Hobbies: Repeated self-analysis on hearing own songs. Viewing Television and Video movies.
Felicitations: Hundreds of felicitations to the length and breadth of the country
Titles Conferred: Kalaima Mani in 1994 from the then Chief Minister M G Ramachandran
Cine Poets Commendations: Dr C Narayana Reddy - "L for Love and R for Romance", Dasari Narayana Rao - "Pancha Bhasha Praveena", Arudra - "Allaru Muddula Gaayani"

Address

L R Eshawari, Saradambal Street, Balaji Avenue, T Nagar, Chennai - 17

Telephone: 826 7585.

-- Maninag Kopalle