Soulful sisters
The first "recording" happened on a smoking hot Chennai afternoon at Adyar's Nakshatra studios exactly a week after she got that morning call
Part euphoria, part work pressure, part Nivi's ear infection caused her to be oblivious to R&B's indifference
He was around, cared for Nivi, went for runs, took her on a bike ride, curled up on the couch with daughter on his chest and slept some nights
She took it all as "Caring daddy"
Appa was thrilled but didnt show it, in the fear that his daughter would end up singing "dappanguthu" as they say in Tamil (crass soulless music of post 2000)
"They have looked at her audio file from 7 years ago?" Amma gushed drying laundry
"I am telling you, Neelakantan is very influential he must have called someone in Harris Jayaraj's studios" Appa claimed
"Mr Neelakantan has been out of touch for three months" Amma didnt wnat to give credit to Appa
"Its my friend, if it was Bala Mami or Mythili Mami u would have put it on facebook" Appa said cynically
"I just hope its a classical based song" "Innikki karthala Sun Music was playing Shankar Mahadevan's Varaha nadi karai oram" Amma gushed
"It will be wonderful I say" Appa beamed with joy lifting the edge of his veshti
"She is a good girl, she should get good things in life, namba Vandu has a very supportive family, Ishita is struggling to manage house, job and baby and husband" Appa let his resentment trickle in
"He cares for everybody" Amma tried to save face
"I am just afraid she will end up having another one soon" Appa sulked
Amma stared in shock
"Why are u talking like this?" "That child is a rajakumari. Any more children will also be the same, they are so wealthy" Amma scolded appa waving a finger
"Avala tavikka vekkaran, tudikka vekaran" (he torments her, he teases her he knows how to impress a woman) Appa grumbled
"Did u wnat him to be a sadhu? Onga ponnu mechuttu poyiduvo" (ur daughter will walk all over him then) Amma scoffed
"Where is equality then?" Appa argued
"there is... they will sort it out, neenga yen kavala padrel?" (why do u bother)
"Madhu... one child is enough with her singing career now taking off" Appa decided his daughter's future
"I wont tell her" Amma squirmed
She had had a conf call with II and Vandu over it a month or so ago when II insisted she accompany her to her tube tying ceremony
"Amma wont agree you wont agree, if I get pregnant who is responsible?" II shouted
"I know who" Akka chuckled
"PO KA" II shouted
"PO DI" Akka charged back
"Ayyyo... yenn dee adichukarel?" (why do u bicker?)
"Amma ONE is enough" II shouted
"NO Ishita" Amma admonished
"If I throw up for 9 months will u go talk to Ritu?"
Amma grunted and swallowed
"There is a thing called "family planning" Akka mocked
"Next time you come to me to say Athim wont leave u alone I will say the same" II screeched
"Kandravi" Amma cringed
"Sorry ma... but please hang up" II yelled
Amma was too embarrased
"Usko keh na... mahiney mein ek hafta alag soyega" Vandu giggled
"already woh 5 din..." II mumbled "I am not joking, one is enough for me" II said somberly
"Have another girl like Nivi, fat and curly haired" Akka smiled contentedly
"U guve me Shubhang and have another one"
"Bala loves him more, take Shravu if u like" Akka said with a tinge of bitterness
"He will not always be a brat u know" II felt tears
"They fight everyday teriyuma?" "bala and Shravu... sometimes I am afraid he will run away" Akka said softly
"Chhheee only in movies that kind of shit hapens" II said confidently
"Dino avana Bala irritate panra he will some day lash out I feel"
"when I see both I feel they are the ideal father son duo"
"He has too much pride to admit it in front of you... I mean in front of the world "Akka corrected herself
II got the message tho
Bala was basically trying to create an image for the Bhallas' benefit, and thanks to marrying a Bhalla she had the "privelege" of being at the receiving end of Bala's lie
"There is so much tension with a boy, if I have another girl imagine"II challenged softly
"Ur kids will be well behaved"Akka said proudly choking up
The recording at Nakshatra was a "non filmi" song about family and love
II nailed the first try like a pro
She called R&B first when she got out
Got his voice mail
"It was a beautiful song da" she said softly and hung up
Shiv Shakti
Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon
Cricket
