Stairway to nostalgia and enduring camaraderie

As told to Fred Cochin by veteran singer and his longtime friend Sujatha Mohan. They revive memories of music concerts of yesteryears, life amid pandemic and more

-  Fred

For veteran singer Sujatha Mohan, who has umpteen soul-stirring songs to her credit and still continues to touch the hearts of millions with her mellifluous voice, every day is a fresh experience, and she looks at them, as if it’s the first.

When Freddie and Sujatha indulge in a conversation, there is a splurge of mutual respect and warmth. Their voice itself exudes the heartwarming moments they have had, during the singer’s sojourn in the US, in the yesteryears, as part of her musical concerts abroad. Sujatha says, “When I think of Freddie chettan, it is the feeling of unconditional respect and love that comes to mind.”

She goes on to recollect how she had stayed in Fred’s house in the US back then, along with her mother, singer KJ Yesudas and wife Prabha.

The duo in an animated voice, say that they aren’t the kind, who have been in constant touch with each other. However, that has not taken away the enduring charm of their camaraderie.

Fred takes a stroll down memory lane, transposing one to a few concerts of hers abroad, “I still remember the song Sandhye Kanneerithende from the film Madanolsavam, which she used to render on stage. As soon as she crooned Sandhye, a few of us would respond to the same from the side of the stage uttering, ‘Endho’, leaving everyone there in splits.”

He goes on to add that he used to express remarks about the way she positions herself while singing. “She used to position one hand behind her and the one other holding the mike. Suju was so habituated with that posture all the time on stage.”