KOCHI:
A group of singers of assorted ages and varied professional backgrounds but united in their love of music today evoked nostalgia for a golden era of cinematic music with their vibrant performance at the ‘Arts and Medicine’ programme organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation at the Government General hospital here today.
Singers from North Paravur, Mujeeb Abdul Kader, who works as a business development manager at Cera Cochin; Ramesh Nair, a football coach and mentor and also editor for Diamond Publications; Sulfikkar Abdulla, an automobile mechanic and a professional singer; Shankari Bijoy, a 7th grade student at karimpadom DDSHS; and Indulekha, a music teacher from Vaduthala, formed the group that wowed the crowd in the 218th episode of Arts and Medicine this week.
The weekly music concert, organized by Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) and Mehboob Memorial Orchestra and sponsored by CAFS (Casino Air Caterers and Flight Services), aims to provide solace to patients through therapeutic music.
“I’ve been a part of the crowd every week for the past year or more, the positive energy that the singers bring is commendable. I approached the organisers and was able to convince them of my singing abilities. I take it as a privilege to be part of a show that brings comfort to the patients,” said Mujeeb.
He began the concert with Keralam Keralam, a musical depiction of the picturesque and resplendent beauty of the state. Indulekha followed it up with Kadali Chenkadali from the 1974 movie ‘Nellu’, originally sung by Lata Mangeshkar. They sung two duets together, while Ramesh and Sulfikkar delivered six Hindi numbers of yesteryears out of a total of sixteen songs. The show concluded with Mujeeb’s rendition of Pranasakhi Njaan Verumoru Pamaranam Paattukkaran from the 1967 movie Pareeksha.
The show ended on a positive note, with hopes of more promising singers and songs enlivening the premises of the hospital next week.
