Distant rain & melody,in Roman.

As we readied ourselves for the night sequence in the bungalow..Our director Jawahar set up a crane shot to capture the exterior lit up for th wedding song, against the blue of the gathering Dusk...
The humidity and heat of the day had given way to a gentle breeze..cool by palani standards.
Since the facade of the house was to be shot,the vanity vans were moved out..so we found sanctuary on the terrace..

And it was here that Nithiyaa Ravindhar sang the songs..

Working over the years in different languages, interacting with cultures variant from any which I may call mine and participating in togetherness with people I meet so often for the 'first' time..I am completely and totally at home,being the outsider.

The love and generosity of my co actors,technicians,the support staff and the extra ordinary creative minds I have met over the last 9yrs of working in various languages,has humbled me.

They have enveloped me as one of their own...who doesn't speak their language.

They have given me amazing roles,many have got for me home cooked food,and books and toys for my child...I also got the opportunity to see nooks of the south,which only a film unit can think of travelling to..and they introduced me to poetry too..from the classic two lined verses from Thirukuraal, to lyrics of Kannadaasa's songs immortalized in classic films, to th poignant word sketches of the popular people's poet Vairamuthhu..

And songs of the Maestro... Illayiraja..from films I had not heard of,or knew about only from their hindi remakes..

Today was such an evening..even as the sky darkened and lightning bolts streaked in the distance..Sitting on the terrace of the shooting bungalow in Palani..Nithiyaa sang compositions of Raja..a lot of them..and then she sang the tamil original of my favourite from the hindi remake Sadma..Surmai ankhion mein..

We will be shooting till late tnite..Its a wedding song..

Dancers flail arms and pump torsos in unision.. there is bonhomie,Cheer and laughter in the air inspite of us all working since 7am.

Probably because, its begun raining in Pollachi 60 kms away..and we at Palani are partaking its blessings..

Or probably because I am thrilled..As I have a song on my lip... Kanna dasa's last composition..Kannai kaley maaney..the original of the song I love from Sadma...

The pallavi (beginning verse) has been sent in Roman to me via text msg by Nithyaa..
She has promised to send the whole song.

I shall learn it...Read Roman and sing Tamil.. for my friends.

Even for those who are not here with me in beautiful palani,120 kms from Coimbatore..

Thank you life..
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