MM Keeravani on composing ‘Vande Mataram’ for Republic Day this year, “I was excited to take this huge responsibility onto my shoulders and felt confident from the beginning” : Bollywood News

Legendary music composer MM Keeravani has composed the official Republic Day song ‘Vande Mataram’ this year. The musician spoke about the honour in an interview with us.

MM Keeravani on composing 'Vande Mataram' for Republic Day this year, "I was excited to take this huge responsibility onto my shoulders and felt confident from the beginning"

MM Keeravani on composing ‘Vande Mataram’ for Republic Day this year, “I was excited to take this huge responsibility onto my shoulders and felt confident from the beginning”
To be sanctioned the creative right to do your own version of ‘Vande Mataram’ for Republic Day is no small responsibility. What was your reaction when you were asked to undertake this challenge?
I was excited to take this huge responsibility onto my shoulders and I felt confident from the beginning, thanks to the tough training by my father and mentor Late Sri Shivadatta who studied in Bombay J J School of arts and absorbed the cultural values and music of yesteryears from stalwarts like Madan Mohan and S D Burman and many more. In his last days he used to listen to the song ‘Toch Chandrama Nabhaat’ by famous Marathi composer Sudhir Phadke in loop. My confidence comes from my father ‘s training. And that is the reason. I was jumping at the opportunity given to me to work on the iconic ‘Vande Mataram’. I have also listened and admired Sudhir Phadke’s ‘Geet Ramayan’ – which is very famous. I have learnt a lot from how he had conducted marriage to the words and music in his journey of composing and rendering those wonderful songs at 72-plus.

Tell me about your creative process in this endeavour?
The Chairperson of Sangeet Natak Academy, Sandhya Purecha was sitting with me all the time and has been my guiding force. The abundant knowledge and command she has got on music, classical dance styles and Sanskrit language made it easy for me to understand the need of the event and do the needful. We called multiple musicians from Chennai and Mumbai to record the song in Hyderabad. There were more members from the academy – present in the recording sessions to guide us. Sandhya ji’s energy levels and knowledge on diverse subjects was amazing. It took a total 22 working days for us to complete the full song.

MM Keeravani on composing 'Vande Mataram' for Republic Day this year, "I was excited to take this huge responsibility onto my shoulders and felt confident from the beginning"

Out of curiosity, which are your favourite patriotic songs?
There are too many to mention. Most of them in Telugu and Tamil. Whenever I listen to Raag Desh- it instantly stimulates devotional feeling for the land, and people. There is something divine in the Raag!! Though this song is not exactly a patriotic song: a song ‘Kozhi Koovum Neram’ composed by me in a Tamil film – Azhagan in 1991, had some beautiful verses where a lover preaches to his wife to prioritise the welfare of the society and country – than the romance and personal choices. The song was conceived by Late K Balachander, whom I consider as the greatest movie director and visionary of my times.

At a time when music in our country has completely obliterated our classical heritage, how do you manage to remain true to your vocation?
I don’t lose my connection with my roots and my love for classical music, though I am the one who likes to be with the trends and update myself to the modem tools.

Your advice to musicians who look up to you?
Music is never separate from literature. Unless you read books and fall in love with the rich heritage of our times – be it books like Mahabharata and Ramayana or be it like philosophy from Jiddu Krishnamurty, be it like Malgudi Days from R K Narayan. Unless you read books and study literature – your music becomes just soulless.

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