Even though he doesn't live the life of a bohemian, he is from Nikšić Nikola Kankaraš has been intensively engaged in life and creativity for more than ten years Tom Zdravković, a man for whom the pub was his second, or first, home, who lived for music and from music, whom journalists called the singer of sadness, and colleagues and friends said that he "turned every pub into a small university of Kolar".
After a decade of research, collecting records, cassettes, books, newspaper articles, photos, after the Facebook page he edited and followed by almost 80 thousand people, which was the most complete internet database about Zdravković, Kankaraš wrote a book about his life and creativity of a man whose songs are evergreen, "Toma Zdravković - Written in Time", which was promoted in the "Zahumlje" JU hall in Nikšić.
Publishers of the book, which was reviewed by journalists and writers Aleksandar Saša Gajović i Raša Tomanović, are "Kosmos izdavaštvo" from Belgrade, "Nova knjiga" from Podgorica and Radio Television Nikšić (RT NK).
"The book about Tomi Zdravković is the best picture, but also the definition of the creativity of journalist Nikola Kankaraš. Lucidly, unobtrusively, provocatively, but with refined taste and measure, Kankaraš presents the work and life of Toma Zdravković. Combining the techniques of the documentary process, numerous interviews, statements, with the elements of a biographical novel, it creates an additional reality about the life and time in which Toma Zdravković lived. It enhances reality in the same way that Toma did with his songs", said, on behalf of the publisher, the director of RT NK. Nikola Markovic.
As he pointed out, Kankaraš in the book did not only portray an artist, but also the spirit of the epoch that is behind us.
"This book, between the lines, is woven with nostalgia for Tom, but also for ourselves, for what we were, what we felt, or what could have been while listening to these legendary hits. And that's what this book sets us as a task - how to interpret our sadness that Tom's poems evoke in us, how to define that pain that makes us both sad and happy at the same time. "Kankaraš is trying to solve this mystery for us through numerous conversations with his closest friends and family members, but also through interviews of the famous singer-songwriter that he collected and preserved from oblivion," said Marković.
After reading the book, he wondered if today there is a bohemian like Toma in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, and he was unable to find him.
"That's why this book is also a book about a time that is no longer there, about lost values, and not only about bygone times and people. This book is therefore also a reminder that 'we are two worlds apart', fortunately for Tom, and unfortunately for us - his is much better and more meaningful, albeit more painful. Nikola Kankaraš showed us this best with his work," concluded Marković.
The proofreader for the book was M.Sc Goran Radojicic, and he and Kankaraš were "brought together" by records more than ten years ago.
"Nikola's many years of work on this book came to the fore at the right moment - at the time when the movie 'Toma' appeared, when the series was being filmed and when the entire region, after 30 years, had the opportunity to remember what Toma did , and for some new generations to learn something about him. When it comes to language, the book is drinkable and easy to read. It is a kind of art. The language is simple, unburdening, close to the ordinary reader, which is important, because this book will not be read only by lovers of literature or music lovers and connoisseurs, but also by ordinary people who like to listen to Tom Zdravković's songs", pointed out Radojičić.
According to him, the authenticity of the book is given by interviews with people who knew Tom Zdravković, and additional interest is provided by photographs and clippings from newspapers, so readers have the opportunity to get to know Tom in a completely different way.
A musician Ivan Pekovic met Nikola Kankaraš through music, when the latter "dare" to take the microphone and sing a song very well.
"The book is exceptional. I am especially glad that I was able to connect him with Ljubiša Pavković who gave him some very important information to complete this story he had started. Toma was an extraordinary man. His music and songs have shown over time that he was an extremely high-quality poet, interpreter and composer, and an extremely gifted man who carried that emotion from the south of Serbia, where he came from, and exceptional musicality. He was an unreal phenomenon for that time, and time has proven him", said Peković.
Kankarase's book about Tom, as he pointed out, "does not have a commercial note, but is a very beautiful biography, with very beautiful texts, with important people who spoke for his book, and this only increases the value of this book and shows that Nikola did very seriously and honestly this book". He wished the author not to stay only on the book about Tom Zdravković, because there are other folk music greats who deserve to have their lives and works published.
Kankaraš, who graduated in International Relations at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Podgorica and works as a journalist, promised that the promoted book is just the beginning of his written work.
"Montenegro has given birth to many artists in all fields, and I hope that this will be a leitmotif of my next book. I don't plan to stop there. This is a good start and a good foundation", said the author who, as he said, carries within himself that sentiment of Tom's, and perhaps that is why the topic is close to him.
Kankaraš promoted his debut book at the Book Fair in Podgorica, in New Belgrade, in Pečenjevac and in Skadarlija, but the promotion in Nikšić, in his hometown, as he pointed out, has a special value.
"This book, to my joy, also takes on some regional dimensions, to pave the way for some subsequent projects in this matter that I have been dealing with for many years", said Kankaraš and thanked the publishers who helped him to make what was "Written in Time ” will also be written in the book.
The evening, which was organized by the "Zahumlje" JU, was moderated by the art historian and program editor at the "Zahumlje" JU. Kristina Radovic, which reminded her of the biography of both Tom Zdravković and Nikola Kankaraš, but also of her acquaintance with the author of the promoted book dating back to 2015, when she met Kankaraš at an exhibition of old record covers that she organized.
A vocal soloist reminded the audience of a piece of Tom's creativity Mirko Ćalić and an accordionist Ivan Pekovic.
The promotion of the book "Toma Zdravković - Written in Time" is part of the October repertoire of the Nikšić cultural scene.
Bonus video: