A song is not a hit because of the stars who sing it

‘If a hit number from the films of the earlier decades is to be recollected, it is usually done by listing the names of its hero and heroine. Next to follow would be the singer and/or the music director. The roles of the lyricist or the film’s director is never talked about’ said R Padmanabhan, a long time light music lover and a fan of old time singers like Mohammed Rafi and Mukesh.

This angst, coupled with like-minded folks who wished to join hands with him saw the birth of Dakshin Dhwani, which decided to set right this anomaly of sorts. A data junkie in the team put together the list of all those involved in the creation of a song – the lyricist, the music director, the playback singer and the film director.

Since then, the one-year old group has been listing out the names of all those who were born or who died in a particular month, beginning from July. The list takes shape in the form of a programme, generically titled ‘Nostalgic Nite’. ‘ Our event on the death anniversary of R D Burman on June 27 was the pilot which made us draw up an annual calendar’ informs Dr S Viswanathan, who specialises in belting out haunting melodies of Talat Mehmood, other than the hits of Rafi and Mukesh.

The forthcoming one is slated for August 24, which will see songs in the memory of 10 legends, who were either born or died in this month. ‘ From Kishore to Mukesh, from H S Rawail to Hrishikesh Mukherjee, from Khemchand Prakash to Shakeel Badayuni, we have taken them all’ says Prabha Naresh, who would be crooning a number or two in the Lamakaan programme.