Retired engineer George Mampilly has a
collection more than 18,000 songs in MP3 files. All of them are
original versions
Photos: Sebastian Kunjukunju
Bhagavathar, a noted stage performer, actor, singer, and author in
the 1940s and 50s in Kerala; collector George Mampilly
By Shevlin Sebastian
The other day George Mampilly received
a packet by courier. It was sent by a friend B. Vijaykumar who lives
near Mattancherry. It contained a cassette of seven songs from the
1962 film, 'Swargarajam'. “I had been looking for this for a long
while,” says George.
George has an unusual hobby: he
collects original versions of Malayalam songs and converts it into
MP3 files. “By original, I mean that the first time a song has been
sung, I take that copy,” he says. George gives an example: the song
'Alliyambal
kadavil' from the 1965 film, 'Rosy', has been first sung by Yesudas.
“Thereafter, there have been numerous versions by other singers,”
he says. “But I avoid that.”
At this moment, he has 18,503 songs
stored on his laptop, using the 'I Tunes' software. This is not bad
when you consider that since 1938, the total number of Malayalam
songs is 19,200, spread over 4700 films. George's collection
begins in 1941 and carries on till 2012.
Not
surprisingly, in his archive, Yesudas leads the way with more than
5000 songs, while on the distaff side, it is Chitra, with 1200 songs,
with S. Janaki coming second with 800 songs. “They are legends, and
the fact that they sang so many songs prove it,” he says.
Ten days ago, George got another
packet. This contained cassettes of 17
songs from Sunil Elias, the grandson of Sebastian Kunjukunju
Bhagavathar, a noted stage performer, actor, singer, and author in
the 1940s and 50s. “These were old songs from the 1950s,” says
George. “There was no hope of getting these items.”
There
was also no hope of getting songs from earlier films. The first
talkie film in Malayalam was 'Balan', released in 1938 and directed
by S. Nottani. “Unfortunately, not a single song or film frame
exists,” says George. 'Gnanambika' is the second film. The singers
include CK Rajam, Mavelikara Ponnamma and Sebastian Kunjunnu
Bhagavathar. “I have songs from that,” George says, with a smile.
Since
his friends know about his hobby, they also provide information. One
friend, Tinny gave George a tip. There was a shop in Alleppey, which
used to sell cassettes. Now they were into CDs. When the Kochi-based
George went to the shop, at the corner there were two sacks filled
with cassettes. He rummaged through them and got many old songs.
Another contact was Eldo, who has many long playing records with
speeds of 33 1/3 and 78 rpm. “The collection was begun by his
father,” says George. “I went there and recorded many songs.”
He has also befriended collectors in Pala and Thiruvananthapuram.
But
George is careful that he avoids using revival music. “In
this type of music, they keep the singer’s voice but add the sound
of new instruments and change the background music and put it in the
market,” says George. “I ensure that I don't copy these.”
So
far George has not made any commercial use of his collection. “I am
willing to share it with others provided I am convinced that the
person will not sell them,” he says.
George,
63, an equipment maintenance engineer, worked for 20 years in the
automobile section of the Saud Bahwan group in Oman. But three years
ago he decided to quit. “When the managing director asked why I was
leaving I told him that for thirty-five years I followed somebody
else's timetable,” says George. “Now I want to set my own
timetable.”
And
that timetable has been focused exclusively on his music collection.
“It has become a passion for me,” he says. “Times passes in a
state of bliss. Those who are music lovers will understand what I
mean.”
(The New Indian Express, Kochi)
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