KOCHI:
When he shifted his workplace from Lakshadweep to Kochi, Assistant Sub Inspector of Police and radio artist P.I. Kunhi Koya also carried along with him his passion for music, a passion that was imbibed by his son as well.
The father-son duo exhibited their vocal mellifluence by dishing out a captivating performance at the 227th weekly ‘Arts and Medicine’ programme at the Government General hospital here today to enthrall the audience comprising patients, bystanders and medical staffers.
Koya and his son Ashik Mohammed Khasim, a degree student at RLV College of Music, Thrippunithura, drew repeated applause from the audience at the all-Wednesday therapeutic musical entertainer organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation and Mehboob Memorial Orchestra. The popular programme, sponsored by Casino Air Caterers and Flight Services (CAFS), aims to provide solace to patients.
‘Koi Jab Rah Nah Paye’, from the award-winning movie Dosti, was the first song of the music concert, and it was beautifully rendered by Koya. His son followed by singing a popular Malayalam song ‘Kanneer Poovinte’ from the 1989 film Kireedam.
Both the father and the son sang a string of songs that swathed the sun-kissed lawns and premises of the hospital, taking turns one after the other and delivering each song in their unique style.
‘Ehsan Tera Hoga Mujh Par’, a soulful ditty originally sung by Mohammed Rafi for the 1961 film Junglee, marked the conclusion of the show, evoking a robust applause from the audience.
Kunji Koya, popularly known as P.I Kalpeni, composes lyrics for Mapilla songs with celebrated V M Kutty and also for light songs. He is also an AIR artist of Kavaratti, Lakshadweep and an actor. He occasionally writes for periodicals and has come out with a collection of short stories- Swapna Theeram, which has Lakshadweep as its background.
“I was thrilled to join work at Kochi because it has enabled me pursue my dreams in music. Kerala is a place where music knows no bounds and can grow immensely. All three of my sons sing well and I am really privileged to perform for the patients. This is something which I can get only in our own Kerala,” Koya said, gushing forth his emotions.
“The importance that KBF gives for therapeutic music and art is one of its kind,” added the police officer.
