The Shri Murugan Entertainers of Greenwood Park
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THREE young men with just a harmonium, a Bellini guitar, and a tambourine playing an impromptu instrumental piece of the song Malai Vanna Malai from the popular Tamil movie Thiruvarul gave rise to the band, the Shri Murugan Entertainers.
The Shri Murugan Entertainers, of Greenwood Park, was established in 1974 by the late Soobramoney Moodley and his three sons - Kumaran, Asogan and Kalaivan.
Moodley was a Tamil scholar, dramatist, musician and singer and the priest of the Sri Ranganather Temple in Greenwood Park. He was well-versed in Tamil scriptures and sacred books and was an ardent follower of actor and singer MK Thyagaraja Bhagvathar.
Moodley sang his songs to near perfection that the title “South Africa’s Thyagaraja Bhagvathar" was conferred on him by the Tongaat South Vishnu Temple.
Soobramoney Moodley, Kumaran, Kalaivan and Asogan.
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The Shri Murugan Entertainers were able to extract and reproduce the music to almost the original, although the band comprised of youth.
Being guided by Soobramoney, the band conformed strictly to the grammar of Carnatic music and kept the artforms Iyal, Isai and Nadagam (literature, music and drama) pure.
Members joined and left during the band’s existence but the core was: Kumaran on harmonium and accordion. He was also the band leader. Then there was Asogan on the clarinet and tabla; Kalaivan played jazz drums and guitar; Sharmindren Naidoo the keyboard; Karnagaran Govender the guitar; Ravi Bukkum the bongo drums; Ricky Chellan the guitar, Sagren Vadival the dholak; and the late Johnson bass guitar; Ravi Maikkum guitar, and Rueben Naidoo the drums.
The singers included Vadi Govender, Nathan Govender, Logan Munien, Mala Govender, Chinta Kalicharan, Kumarie Govender, Sundari Naidoo, Selvan Moorthi, Pregalathan Vadivel, Siva Kisten and the late Krish Pillay.
The late Rosy Govender, Mary Naidoo and Shanti Naicker were guest singers. The late Danny Devnath was the MC of the band.
The Shri Murugan Entertainers contributed immensely to the promotion of Indian culture and music and supported many charitable and religious organisations. The band also partnered with others like Reflections, Neelavani Entertainers and Kalaimagal Orchestra on several platforms.
They stopped performing in 1984 after the demise Soobramoney Moodley.
Jimmy Moodley
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Jimmy Moodley is an author and researcher
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