In Memory of Raju

Appa was a very dedicated fan of Carnatic music, and of films (esp. English films). He would often spend 2 ½ annas to buy a film ticket just to get a chair. Amma never went to watch films, and the first film she ever saw was “Shakunthala” a 1965 film with G. N. Balasubramaniam and M. S. Subbulakshmi – directed by Ellis R. Duncan. I was one of the kids who accompanied her to the theater. Appa would never take Amma or kids to listen to any kuccheri or to see a film, but there was never a single music performance that he has not personally attended. He would never spend one naya paisa for it. Devu has already told you how he would go and stand at the gate of the music hall just to hear the concert for free. Another related story is about the radio that Ambu made as part of his college course. Appa never replaced that radio, and listened to music on it for at least 10 or more years. Despite a lot of advances in radio technology, he would not part with it come what may. He had one friend who was a radio repair man, who would come home to clean and fix the radio every month, whether there was a problem with the radio or not. Appa would sit with him and talk about all things happening in the world. I thought that perhaps fixing electronics was this man’s profession – repair of radios etc. Later I found out he had no electronics training, and no experience with radios. Appa was his one and only client for this job. He just enjoyed sitting and talking with Appa, and had figured out all the ins and outs of this particular radio model and how to repair it by trial and error, so he can sit and have a chat with Appa for a long time.