Her name is Bombay Jayashree. My wife received them at the airport and drove them home. They stayed in our home for 3 days. We took care of them very well. They were very happy. We asked Jayashree “you sing very well and your voice is so sweet” and therefore why don’t you sing in the Tamil movies. She said I am trying but no one has given me the opportunity. After 3 days, they left.
After a few years my company transferred me to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. When we were there, one year, we went to Paris for vacation. One day we went to an area called Gare du Nord. Actually, it is called a little “Tamil Nadu”. We went there to have some South Indian lunch. We could hear the song “Vaseegara” in every nook and corner.
My wife said this voice sounds like Bombay Jayashree. We asked one of the restaurant owner who the singer is. He said this is the voice of Bombay Jayashree and this is her first song in the movie industry and it has become very famous.
Many years go by. We were vacationing in Chennai. There was a Carnatic music concert by Bombay Jayashree. We bought tickets and went inside the auditorium. We were in the 10th row. I told my wife she is looking at us. My wife said she is looking at the audience while singing and not us. The concert ended.
Her fans were eager to see her and so mobbed her. We were sitting in our seats in the 10th row. She braved her fans and was coming towards us. And finally came near us. She said “Lalitha mami, epdi irukale” (Lalitha Auntie. How are you). Then she turned around and addressed me “Sorry uncle. I forgot your name after a long time”. I said that is ok and glad you remembered auntie’s name.
She gave us her home address and phone number and invited us to visit her. We decided not to go.
(PS: She was nominated for an Oscar Award for her work in the movie Life of Pi.
Here is her Vaseegara song in YouTube.
I love this song soo much, one of my favs.... such a unique and romantic composition......and it was so sweet of her to not only have remembered you but also to come meet and talk with you, a true star....
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Dee. Yes, I agree.
DeleteExcellent song. You could have gone to her house :)
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
Thanks for your comments Rajesh. It was at the end of our vacation in Chennai and we were busy in other stuff.
DeleteI didn't know Bombay Jayashri came to your home as guest. We saw Minnale in Prarthana and it's still one of our favourite movies till date
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Anonymous. When she came to our home in SLC, she was not in the movie industry.
DeleteThank you for your short and crisp post.You seem to have several interesting experiences like the one in this post. Please share the suitable ones. I am a great fan of Bombay Jayashree’s music from her younger days.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Mr. KP. I am tool
DeleteA very good post. Nice on the part of Bombay Jayshree to have come over to you. That's clearly an acknowledgement of your warm hospitality you extended to her during her visit to the States.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an experience! Just curious, weren't any hotels available? Why would you need to house strangers in your home?
ReplyDelete