KOCHI:
Today’s may have been the farewell concert for the fourth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, but playback singers Jyotsna Radhakrishnan and Afsal chose to lend the occasion an air of celebration than poignancy. The 261st chapter of the weekly ‘Art and Medicine’ series two days ahead of the conclusion of the mega art festival thus left only radiant faces at the General Hospital, Ernakulam.
For many in the crowd, it was a dream come true to watch their favourite singers live. The duo set aside their busy schedules and dedicated the forenoon for the solace of the patients, bystanders and medical staff at the biennale stage set in the hospital premises.
Afsal did the honours of inaugurating the show that strung together 14 songs. The first number to waft out was ‘Sukhamanee nilavu’ (from the 2002 Malayalam movie Nammal) that fetched Jyotsna the best playback female singer award at the state level.
Jyotsna, for all her popularity and recognition in the form of ten prestigious awards, has been trained in both the classical music streams of the country. She learned Carnatic under Mangad K Natesan, while her Hindustani guru has been Dinesh Devdas.
“Through music, one can pass on happiness and comfort to others. It is a universal medium that can be used to derive self -satisfaction as well in the process,” said the vocalist, who gained wider attention as a singer in 2002. “Being able to provide soulful music for the enjoyment of those who need it is a blessing,” added Jyotsna, who was born in Kuwait and raised in UAE.
An enthusiastic crowd kept requesting the singers to croon some of their favourite numbers, and the artistes agreed with pleasure. Singers Yahiya Azeez of Mehboob Memorial Orchestra and Mujeeb also sang a couple of hit numbers to support the lead singers.
Arts and Medicine is a joint initiative of the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) and Mehboob Memorial Orchestra, having been conceived in 2014. It has featured celebrities, professionals, amateur singers and people from various professions inclined to charity.
KBF trustee Bonny Thomas, who was present at the event, said, “Other than fame and money, the gratification that one gets out of charitable deeds is bonus for the singers.”
The songs rendered today were in Malayalam, Hindi and Tamil. Often Jyotsna and Afsal took the crowd on a musical journey down memory lane. They included Lag Ja Gale (Hindi), Kannam Thumbi Poraamo, Mehruba, Sangeethame, Unnai Thedi (Tamil), karuppinazhaku and Poonthenaruvi.
The fourth edition of the 108-day biennale, which began on December 12 last year, draws to a conclusion this Friday.
