‘Soolamangalam’ Sisters
Q: Please tell me about your film songs …
A: We’ve sung a number of songs for different movies … ‘Chandralekha’, ‘Avvaiyaar’ and films produced by Modern Theatres, the list is long. ‘Madhuraman rusi ullathu …’, the duet song which I sang with T. R. Mahalingam was a big hit in those days. Rajalakshmi’s debut song was for the film ‘Krishna bhakthi’, released in the year 1948. The song was ‘Kadavulai kandaen … kannan meedhu kaadhal kondaen …’. ‘Kaana kann kodi vaendum ..’ of the film ‘Konjum salangai’, ‘Orae oru oorilae orae ore raja …’ of the film ‘Padikkaadha maedhai’, ‘Kunkumam mangala mangaiyar kunkumam …’ of the film ‘Kunkumam’, ‘Unakkum enakkum isaintha poruttham …’ of the film ‘Naalu veli nilam’ were some of our songs that turned out to be chartbusters hummed by everybody in those days. Our films include ‘Naanal’, ‘Edhaiyum thaangum idhayam’, ‘Saradha’, ‘Karpooram’, ‘Kandan karunai’, ‘Thirumal perumai’, ‘Gumasthaavin magal’, ‘Thaalaattu’, ‘Aen?’, ‘Rajaraja chozhan’, etc.
Q: How did you get interested in composing music for film songs?
A: My husband V. T. Arasu, Rajalakshmi’s husband Balasubramanian and Saraswathi’s husband Ramdas all encouraged us in our career. We gave hits that included our own productions ‘Dharisanam’, ‘Tiger Thatthaachari’, ‘Karpooram’, ‘Therottam’, ‘Pillaiyar’, ‘Magishampoo’, etc. MGR, impressed with our capacity expressed his wish to work in one of our productions. He titled the film as ‘Ungalukkaaga naan’. We even composed three songs. And, he selected locations also for shooting in Chimoga near Mysore. At that juncture, he went to America. The shooting was scheduled to start after his return. But when he returned, assembly election was held and he became the chief minister. Our project had to be shelved. MGR expressed his regret and promised to bear the cost of the production work done thus far. But we didn’t want to accept his offer of compensation, we were already happy with his words. We were not fortunate enough to produce a film with MGR, but we can never forget his magnanimity in attending my nephew Murali’s marriage and spending two hours on the occasion with all of us. And, he did us the favor of arranging for our program in Mauritius on the Independence Day of that country. He arranged for our program at the Thanjavur University’s function also and enjoyed our performance till end sitting in the front row. MGR was a connoisseur of fine arts and he had very good taste for Carnatic music also.
Q: How do you feel listening to your songs on the radio, television or public places?
A: I feel really very happy. Rajalakshmi had sung more number of songs than me. Whenever I listen to her voice, tears roll down my cheeks. We both lived as twins. Even today, I am living with her memories (Jayalakshmi’s eyes welled with tears).
But, it is a great disappointment that ‘Soolamangalam’ sisters, who singularly contributed to Tamil language and music through their stage performances, devotional songs and film songs had not been honored by any government in the way they should have been. I can feel this disappointment in Jayalakshmi also during my conversation with that great lady. But, the sisters as well as their songs will remain fresh in the memory of all Tamils for all time to come.
