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M D Pallavi, singer known for her work in theatre and Kannada sugama sangeeta, has put online songs she had recorded for kids 15 years ago.
She has added visual appeal to the songs with colour illustrations that she has adapted to YouTube. The collection has 45 rhymes.
"Back then, when I then looked around to gift a Kannada rhymes album to my friend’s little daughter, I couldn’t find a good one. So I decided to record some myself," she told Hit.
After months of research guided by the well-known literary critic Ki Ram Nagaraj, she collected 45 traditional Kannada rhymes. These were songs passed on from grandmothers and mothers to the little ones in their families.
The legendary lexicographer G Venkatasubbaiah wrote a foreword for a book she then brought out with these rhymes. Poet H S Venkatesha Murthy released it.
"Now, after all these years, I am making it available on YouTube. Baro Baro Gubbacchi is my gift to all children and young parents," she says. The collection includes folk rhymes like 'Avalakki pavalakki' and 'Ratho ratho rayana magale.'
Here is a link to all 45 rhymes recorded by Pallavi.
What guided her choices? "I was looking for traditional poems. We had already heard nursery rhymes by G P Rajaratnam and other famous Kannada poets. So I wanted to collect and record folk and traditional poems."
When Pallavi first brought out the album, the big challenge was retailing and marketing. "Today, with streaming services it is easier to reach a wider audience. But the concept of an album is now not fixed. Also, now audio releases definitely need a visual element. So I worked on visuals for all the 45 rhymes," Pallavi explains.
Back then, children loved the rhymes, she recalls. "We did many reprints of the CD and book. When we released it 15 years ago, (Jnanpith laureate) U R Ananthamurthy had told me that this album reminded him of his childhood. I hope children embrace these rhymes like how kids did 15 years ago," she says.
Pallavi is planning more songs and content for children. "I remember watching Chota Chetan with awe. And listening to English rhymes in Preeti Sagar’s voice. Ronald Dahl is one of my favourite children’s authors. I also loved watching Jungle Book when it was telecast with Vishal Bharadwaj's music for Gulzar’s title song," she says.
This album had been lying dormant for 15 years.
"Two months ago, I had a vocal injury and was advised total voice rest for two weeks. To keep myself sane, I gave myself this task of visualising all 45 rhymes. And so, we have this on YouTube now," Pallavi says.
Baro Baro Gubbacchi and other songs on YouTube.
