SPB, Yesudas reunite after 26 years for Kinar

After a hiatus of over 25 years, legendary singers SP Balasubramaniam and Yesudas will join for a duet in bilingual movie Kinar, directed by MA Nishad. According to the director, the last track they sang together is Kaattu Kuyilu Manasukkulla for the movie Thalapathi directed by Mani Ratnam in 1991. 

Says Nishad, "It was my dream to have both of them sing for my movie. When I approached SPB sir with the song, he was instantly in love with the music by M Jayachandran. He also loved the fact that the movie has a very relevant social cause attached to it," says Nishad.  The duo will croon for the track Ayya Sami penned by Harinarayanan and Pazhani Bharati.

According to Nishad, this was a dream-come-true moment for him. "In fact, music composer Jayachandran and I were students at TKM Engineering College when Thalapathi hit the screens. I still remember how the whole theatre was enamoured by the song Kaatu Kuyilu. When Jayachandran composed the song Ayya Saami for Kinar, I suggested that we rope in SPB and Dasettan. Both of them were happy about the idea. Dasettan recorded the song from the US," says Nishad. 

But, did he ask SPB why there was such a long gap? "Yes, of course. SPB sir told me that he didn't get an offer that was tempting enough," says the director.

Kinar, which has been titled Keni in Tamil, deals with the topic of water scarcity. The film has Jayapradha, Revathy and Tamil actor Archana in the lead roles. Kinar is produced by Sajeev PK and Anne Sajeev under the banner of Fragrant Nature Film Creations.