Saamakozhi

They play a song to fill the gap between one programme and the 7 o’ clock news, which is the state news, followed by the national news. The news will be follwed by the sweet voice of a lady announcing the price Jafna tobacco, sold in quintals. You liked her voice and particularly the quintal bit. One time, you remember, the filler was about someone on a mountain side, you heard the chirping of the birds, the soft sound of a waterfall and the metallic clank of sculptors’ implements against rocks. Then you tuned in every day at the same time, but that programme never came on. Now they are playing this song, it’s from a new movie, you notice how seamlessly it blends with the darkening day and the quietening evening.