From valves to transistors to integrated circuits to digital equipment, K. Sampath has travelled with the evolution of sound engineering technology in film audiography. He has won three state awards and a national award for best audiographer. Having worked in more than 1,000 movies and 6,000 songs Sampath’s experience is vast and rich.
He joined AVM studios as an apprentice in 1955 and retired as in-charge of the sound department in 2008. “I was fascinated by film music as a child,” he says. As a school goer in Tiruchi, he used to frequent a shop in the neighbourhood called Radio House where the owner Abbai played songs for young Sampath. “Then we did not have a radio in our house, so I regularly visited his shop to hear film songs. He also used to play classical music in his gramophone. Seeing my interest he was the one who suggested that I pursue sound engineering course,” he recalls.
Sampath came to Chennai to pursue diploma course in cinematography and sound engineering. When he first visited AVM studios, dialogues used to be recorded live and his job was to roll down the cables of the microphones from obstructing the field of action. Sound engineer Atul Chatterjee brought Sampath recognition because he wanted an assistant who could converse fluently in English. Sampath stepped in and soon became the language interpreter as the heads of the sound department were mostly from North India.
Sampath worked under chief recordists J.J. Manickam and SP. Ramanathan for numerous films. But he also feels that it was not easy to work in those days. “In many movies, my name would be dropped from the title card deliberately as I was the junior most. Once Mukul Bose, then in-charge of the department, wanted my name on the title card of Paava Mannippu . But when he left to attend to his ailing mother, my name was dropped yet again,” he says.
After all the struggles, Sampath’s first independent song recording was ‘ Pazhagum Thamizhe ’ for the movie ‘Parthiban Kanavu ’. He and J.J. Manickam were at the helm when Ilaiyaraja made his debut. “It was a disappointing start as power went off when he began. The recording resumed after an hour but this time the valves on the recording equipment conked out. When people advised me to stop the recording, I did not want to let down Raja and I just requested him for another take without citing the reason,” he recalls behind-the-scene goings on while recording the song for Annakili.
Sampath was also known for his experiments with sound. Once music composer M.S. Viswanathan wanted a special effect for the title song of Anbe Vaa, Sampath created the ‘chik mang’ effect. “I was clueless and just when I was rewinding the spool tape a funny sound was heard. MSV who was having his lunch in the adjacent room rushed to my cabin and was excited to hear the effect,” he says.
Similarly, for ‘Ennu Swantham Janaki Kutti’, he created a sound effect which was well appreciated and got him the national award. “Generally a sound engineer would do his best to enhance the music but I just shut down all the sound and silence was the best effect there. It was a scene featuring an old woman telling ghost stories to her grandson. I did not want to break the eerie silence when the ghost appeared on screen. Though the director was happy, the music composer was not as he had composed a bang sound. Finally, the film was released with the bang sound. But the one which fetched me the award was sent without that sound!” he laughs.
He feels live recording is easier for the engineer to mix sounds as he is aware of the musical interludes and their placements. Whereas in multi track system, each sound is recorded on different days at different times. “There are chances of losing control. A sound engineer has to be extra vigilant. It might look easy from outside but it is tough,” he says.
ACCOLADES:
Best Audiographer:
State award: Senthoora Poove (1988), Cheran Pandian (1991), Yejamaan (1993)
National award: Ennu Swantham Janaki Kutti (1997)
FILMS HE HAD WORKED:
TAMIL: Paava Mannippu, Veera Thirumagan, Anbe Vaa, Raman Ethanai Ramanadi, Deiva Piravi, Paarthiban Kanavu, Murattu Kalai, Munthanai Mudichu, Sakala Kala Vallavan, Pattikada pattanama, Ulagam Sutrum Vaaliban, Annakili, Badrakali, Cheran Pandian, Annamalai, Saadhu, Rasaiah, Walter Vetrivel, Senthamizh Paatu.
MALAYALAM: His Highness Abdullah, Bharatham, New Delhi and Perundhachan
