Alliyambal Kadavil, a life sketch of K.V. Job (Job Master to his fans, admirers and friends), which was released here on Sunday, revives memories of a bygone era when geniuses lived by their convictions and bore witness to their times.
Named after the evergreen song Alliyambal, which he set to music, Job Master’s life sketch highlights his genius, his detachment from the world. The author, Fr. William Nellikkal, said it was an attempt to highlight the most important moments of Job Master’s life.
‘A saintly person’
The 1965 song, which is etched in the memory of all Malayalam song lovers, was composed for the film Rosie, directed by P.N. Menon and sung by K.J. Yesudas, who recalled him as a saintly person. That saintliness was not only in his life, it was reflected in his music, recalled the ‘Gaanagandharvan’ in his preface to the life sketch.
He also recalled that Job Master composed songs only for 10 films but set to tune hundreds of Christian devotional songs. Job Master, despite speaking so little and being almost an introvert, had a large circle of friends, which included C.O. Anto, musicians M.K. Arjunan and Jerry Amaldev and the late Archbishop Cornelius Elanjikkal.
Mr. Amaldev recalled how Job Master inspired confidence in him when he came to sing at the Don Bosco Kalasamithi for the first time. He said that despite being away from Kochi for a long time, he never felt any distance in their relationship.