Today, after 40 years of life with varied shades, I was gifted with my life's biggest ever, pleasant surprise! I was given my dream come true moment when one of my desire to meet that person, whose voice has been my lifeline all these years (many of ours infact)!
Hold on... let me reveal the surprise the way I experienced it :)
After a beautiful bday start, I was instructed to take bath (atleast today;) and get ready to go to a temple. As a very obedient gal (;), I did so, and found myself 'hijacked' by my closest pal (Gops) and asked to just be a silent traveler. No Questions entertained! Ok, so there rang my first bell...
From there we reach to meet the other culprit (Sujith) in this 'hijacking' plan who onboards and they both talk about some random things, with a grin on their faces...
Then, a call goes to 'Aju bhai'; been asked to reach a certain place and wait outside. Second bell rang but what do I do with it, with such an amazing topographical sense of mine. I didn't have a clue of where we are to guess where we are headed to...
Though my intuitive little bird gave me a hint - will it be him? I ask with a smile Is it what I am thinking and pat comes the reply with a bigger grin yes yes, it is exactly what you are thinking! Ok, well tried but tough luck!
Then comes 'Aju bhai'. We greet him, and he says, so you are the birthday girl. ha, ya but... before I could say anything they all started to walk ahead. Gops keeps turning back to see if I guessed it... and then we step into that place, which I not even thought would be possible ever!
Office of that eternal golden voice, soothing me through ups and downs of my life! Yup, none other than S.P.B (S P Balasubrahmanyam) sir... As I sat there with bated breath to get a glimpse of him, I was trying to calm down my nerves all time wondering is this for real?!? And these guys sit bang opposite me watching and having fun of their life time!
His abode is definitely a energy zone... aesthetically done so pleasing, calming and energizing. As we move into his office, and I got my first glance, oo, what a feel! No words can match that - just magical, serene and powerful.
I gave him a small token of love and seek his blessings, he acknowledges, and settles into a discussion with us with his calm and composing manner.
Those were probably one of the most humbling experience in our lives. Such a legend, acting so simple, talking to us so easily and that too for 20 mts or so! wow! He shared a gist of his experiences that keep him humble and going in this field; walked down to bring his phone and read out a share that he was inspired by, which said 'attitude makes all the difference'.
He himself initiated our snaps session and then again asked us our name yet again. He says
Gopakumar, now isn't that a very nice name and popular one in Kerala? This reminds me of a Telugu song (non filmy), which is based on a situation in Mahabharata between Arjun and Lord Krishna. That song actually says 'Nandakumara' but many on stage sings it as 'Gopakumara'Before we could believe our ears, he set into singing this bit... wow what sheer brilliance!
O and this doesn't stop, he was all ears to our interest and what we do... We discussed his music directed film 'Sigaram' and got to know that he has done music for about 65 films in different languages along with re-recording : singer, music director, actor, and what not!
Just the mention of us being in media and doing short films, he says "share your films. I would like to see them. Also, my son (SPB Charan) would be interested. He likes to work with such new talents."
We Salute you and your voice Sir! A man with such an aura, elan, and simplicity : Blessed and Humbled we are. As we signed off, I said and meant it your voice keeps ringing in our ears, and so it shall sir always, forever!
Tx for your precious time for us, priceless autograph, and the pen set : I promise to keep writing with the pen :)
Nothing of this would have been part of my life without these buddies : Gops and Sangee for hearing to my desires and taking efforts to make it realize; Sujith & Sreejith for talking to Jakes, the guy who made this happen via that one person who ensured we get sir's time and attention, and physically accompanied us to this meet : Aju bhai! What shall I say?!? A real big hug and loads of love guys :)
The Floating, dumbfounded, kiddish me signing off with nothing but tears of joy rolling down at this moment : reliving that 'dream come true moment' - O, btw, this surely is our temple Gops :)