Can a person who spent 65 years in Paris be called a Keralite? What would you call such a person if he had become deeply immersed in French culture, language, literature and cinema? If you had the chance to meet Narayanam Valiya Kolleri, you would have no doubt that he is a Keralite because all things that are unique to Kerala were part of him too, readily.
He was an ardent lover of French and Malayalam and could not stand anyone defacing both the languages. He could become vocal when he elaborated how so-called language pundits in Kerala found out new letters in Malayalam to appease newspaper owners.
However, the expertise and fame of Nara Kolleri was not in the languages, he was one given to sound in cinema. He went to Paris to develop his sound appreciation skills and got employed in the Paris Film Studio. There he met outstanding film personalities and cooperated with them and developed his career as a sound mixer. He was awarded the César Award for his work in the movie, Black Moon. Unlike Oscar, the awards in France are highly acclaimed because it is awarded after ensuring the quality of the recipient. However, he was not very happy with his work in Black Moon and was happier with his work in Lucien Lacombe.
Here is his short life story: He was born in 1928 as the son of Malleri Krishnan Vaidyan and Cheerootty and grew up in the protection of his elders. He completed his education in Palloor and Pondicherry and migrated to Paris in 1950. His wife Madellin died 20 years ago. His only son Christophe is in London as a cultural attache.
I have been intrigued by his works in Kerala as well as Paris. He was interested in the local ballads, Saigal's poems and so on.
Some years ago, when I asked for a French song sung by Josephine Baker, who was a popular singer in the twenties, for a documentary made on Nara Kolleri, he said, "French? That lady cannot sing French." That was the man and his love for the French language.