The sound of nostalgia

The very thought of Onam stirs up in the mind nostalgia in the form of songs such as‘ Poove poli poove poli… ’ and ‘ Maveli naadu vaneedum kaalam ’. The festivities are never complete without the traditional art forms and songs. In the olden times, we listenedto songs part of Kummattikali, Kaikottikali, Velakali, Thumbithullal, Paananpattu and Vallamkalipaatu. Onam songs have deep connections with the land. Such folk songs are the ones that I usually render during celebrations. The popular Onam songs today are mostly drawn from music albums and films. But I do enjoy these songs like most other Malayalis.I think great poems make great Onam songs. I have rendered Vyloppilli’s Onappattukaar , Onamuttath , and Vishnu Narayanan Namboodiri’s O n am , and many others for musical features on All India Radio.