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K. Vishwanath – Thank You


As a young family living in Andhra Pradesh in 1980s it would’ve been hard to miss movies of K. Vishwanath that are now regarded as classics.   His movies revolve around some theme of classical dance or music.   With no formal knowledge in this classical tradition, but with the ability to enjoy and appreciate art our parents were huge admirers of his movies.   By huge I mean diehard. 

We watched the movie Sagara Sangamam countless time -  as kids we made multiple trips to the theater with barely any comprehension of its mature theme, as young teens at home it seemed entertaining and as adults and equals with parents we spent countless hours appreciating and sometimes explaining certain nuances.   Music from his movies was a constant on our record player.

Now with all the post stroke rehabilitation we show, do and talk thing that we know our father enjoys.   We repeatedly played the scenes and songs from the Sagara Sangamam, Shankarabaranam,  and Swathi Muthyam.   He definitely enjoys  it and is unsurprising never tires of it.   Although this has been going on for almost two years, just a few months back for the finale song in Shankarabharam he burst out in tears.    We hadn’t seen him cry even prior to the stroke, so this surely called for water works from all of us. 

These days whenever he doesn’t seem too alert or responds slower than usual I have few bag of tricks.  There are certain things when I say or ask he usually laughs.  I do that.  But I also play the songs on youtube to make him emotional.   He doesn’t tear up, but gets close to it.  I love it when he reacts, since his face is impassive most of the time.  So here we are, watching the songs online as a family, emotions welling up for each for us for varied reasons, leaving the nurses to be flabbergasted on the family’s obsession with the songs.   

Scroll down for the songs and scene to see what we obsess about - 

The Finale Song from Shankarabaranam - Never fails in making him emotional and hence never fails to fill my heart with glee. 



 
Favorite song from Sagara Sangamam 


Absolute and all time favorite scene from Sagara Sangamam - How many times have we watched this again? 






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