A 'vintage' day!

Today was a nice restful day that had a dash of vintage all through. Usually, on Saturday mornings, Lekha and I watch a half hour musical programme on the Asianet Malayalam channel called ‘Paattupetti’. The presenter covers the making of the song and a brief overview of the playback singer before playing the track, based on a theme which is unique every week. Today’s theme was about those lady artistes who’d made a mark on their debut, but for some reasons, did not stay long in the circuit and most of them lead an uneventful but normal life even today. It should be understood that they’d stiff competition from S Janaki(the Malayali ‘Lata Mangeshkar’ and mind you, she’s an Andhraite), P Suseela, P Leela, Madhuri and Vani Jayaram. The songs were mellifluous, lyrically beautiful, emotionally tugging and soul stirring with the accompanying scores being a judicious mix of percussion, wind and string instruments! And mind you, in those days, lyrics were first written and then music was made, which I reckon, is more difficult in the business of music making than the other way round when music is first made and lyrics written to it, which is the general trend that is followed these days.
The afternoon, at lunch, saw us having a surprise guest in Lekha’s uncle, Maj(Retd) Gopinath who’s been here at NOIDA to attend a friend’s son’s wedding since Thursday. It was nice to hear him speak of his experiences and he had found this break to get away from all the rich food and partying to spend some time with us. A wonderful gesture on his part!
In the evening, after the customary walks as part of our health trip, we called on our neighbours, to meet the Colonel’s parents who’re on a short visit. It was a wonderful meeting with the elderly people who were only too eager to take care of us in their own cute ways. I’ve always felt, ever since my days at the Academy, that the people who hail from the foothills of the Himalayas(pahaadis, as they’re fondly called) have a disarming simplicity about their personality and it was felt yet again after our interaction with Jitindra’s parents. Perhaps, it is the ruggedness of the terrain that they are subjected to and familiar with, that makes them so simple and endearing. May God give them many more years of a healthy life, full of happiness!