By Verghese V Joseph –
A leading advocate M L Joseph from Chennai (in Tamil Nadu), who successfully completed 25 years in his practice just a couple of days back, chose a unique way – penning lyrics – to honour God for all the blessings bestowed upon him. Collaborating with Kannan G Nath – who himself is an accomplished singer, actor, dancer, musician, songwriter and a choreographer – Joseph cut an album that’s resonating well with Christian devotional song listeners.
Joseph, who heads Chennai Law Associates, handles civil, criminal, banking, corporate and constitutional matters. He’s an active litigator representing a multifarious clientele in courts and tribunals across the country. With his extensive knowledge of applicable laws, he has addressed legal problems in a comprehensive manner involving elements of strategy formulation, preparation of legal documentation, and effective representations in court backed by a sense of preparedness and thorough research.
Adept at drafting agreements often involving complex issues with far-reaching implications, Joseph has consciously acquired a corporate and commercial laws expertise, which both complements and draws insights from his trials and appellate practice. His areas of specialization in drafting, vetting and finalizing of all types of documents defining legal relationships, besides rendering advisory opinions on a wide range of legal issues, corporate compliances and liaisoning with regulatory authorities have helped earn a name for himself in the legal circles.
Notwithstanding a robust career in contentious litigation, Joseph has successfully applied, and strongly encouraged alternative dispute redressal mechanisms such as mediation, reconciliation and arbitration to bring about amicable settlements between disputing parties.
Excerpts from the interview:
Mother Teresa once said: “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.” Your songs have indeed touched a chord among listeners. What was the inspiration behind the lyrics?
The song is a story-telling act. Abraham’s feelings as father is expressed in this song and yet his submissiveness and surrender to God’s command is highlighted in the lyrics. I remember a one-act play in Bible Kalotsava of Palghat Diocese in Kerala way back in 1991; wherein I played the role of Abraham and that play won Second prize. Since then, the entire scenes have been etched in my mind. Whatever we have now is given by God and if he wants anything from us we have to simply give it without any murmur or questions. The faith that God will do everything for our good must never diminish in our life at any point of time. Job did the same thing in extreme distress. I feel a song reaches more people than a story. It is heard, reheard and sung by different people at all levels and at various situations and locations.
How did the collaboration with the noted singer Kannan G Nath come about?
I once saw Kannan G Nath Sir on a television program and also I heard him sing a Christian song with a hand drum controlled by with the help of strings on YouTube recently. The song was about the Holy Spirit written and composed by the famous Fr. Abel CMI who founded Kalabavan at Kochi, an institution that has produced many famous actors. I was so impressed by his baava (the feel) and contacted him. Incidentally, Kannan Sir runs a music school in N Paravur near Kochi, in the southern state of Kerala
Kannan Sir was so welcoming and encouraging. He asked me to send him over my earlier songs, which I did. He liked them and suggested we do a song together. That’s how we began. This song was written in ‘Manglish’ – English letters sounding in Malayalam. Then I used Google voice and had it transcribed in English, recited the words in an audio file and sent it to him. Kannan Sir’s humility and surrender to God and the bakthi he expressed in his words before starting any work was simply amazing.
The composition of these songs are traditional yet contemporary. How did you both go about working on this?
I told him the pain of Abraham and his absolute obedience to God and the innocence of Isaac and the merciful God showing a goat in the shrubs as alternate for Isaac and everything in Malayalam, and he patiently listened to it and asked me to pray well for the song to come out well.
Despite not knowing to write Malayalam, how did you manage to get the right lyrics?
My parents were strict that we speak mother tongue and pray our rosary and night prayers in Malayalam and also be active in Malayalam church. My parents inspired and still inspire me. My mother is the greatest fan of my lyrics and likes all songs till date. I can read Malayalam. My association in parish with altar boys and being a catechist for ten years where all the liturgy was in Malayalam also helped. My dad was instrumental in encouraging Malayalam rite in Coimbatore.
What ‘thaal’ are the songs set to?
The thaal is set to ¾, according to Kannan Sir and the songs required and intense expression of feeling. The recording, programming, mixing and editing was done by Akash Anjaney of Anjaneyam Media.
Being a lawyer cum activist, author, editor, lyricist, actor; what next from you?
Whatever God wants us to do, we must do. To live a Christian life is what I work at day in and day out. We cannot do anything without our maker’s influence and intervention. I want to write more Christian devotional songs in Malayalam and also Tamil. Do what best I can do in the profession of law. Also spread legal awareness through my magazine Chennai Lexlight. I’m confident that God will utilise me to my fullest potential. As my master, he knows how to use me for the benefit of others.
What is the underlining theme that you are planning to use in your next signature album?
I’m looking at a theme that deals with miracles of Jesus in different songs and different styles with versatile established singers. God will make my dream come true soon.
Other devotional songs written by Joseph and music and sung by Kootuveli Balachandran of Cherthala are provided for your listening pleasure below.