Biennale Music: Singers From Thanal Rise Above Challenges

KOCHI:
‘Thanal Freedom On Wheels’, a troupe of differently-abled artists presented an inspirational concert marking the 224th edition of the weekly ‘Arts and Medicine’ show at the Government General hospital here on Wednesday.
It was also the 130th stage programme for the troupe which was formed by the Thanal Paraplegic Patients Welfare Society five years ago and which specializes in variety shows including Karaoke Ganamelas, mimicry, and special performances.
At the weekly Arts and Medicine programme, organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation, the audience was introduced to talented singers Sarath Padipura, Coordinator of Thanal (Perumbavoor); Unni Maxx, freelance photo editor (Koothattukulam); Martin Nettoor, choir singer; Saji Vagamon; Jomit Madakkathanom(Thodupuzha); Dhanya Gopinath, Abacus trainer( Muvattupuzha); Mohammed Shahal, ninth grade student (Aluva); and singer and special performer Anju Rani Joy (Kakanad).
The concert began with the rendition of the melodious ‘Sindhoora Thilakavumaay’ by Martin from the 1983 movie Kuyilinethedi . Next in line was Dhanya with ‘Kadali Chenkadali Pooveno’ from the 1974 film Nellu. Together the artists sang around ten songs, interspersed with special performances by Anju Rani, who is a world record holder for jar lifting and writing simultaneously with both hands in four different patterns (mirror image and water image).
Saji , Jomit and Shahal have featured on ‘Comedy Utsav’, a programme on a leading Television channel.
“We want to proclaim to the world that regardless of our challenges, we consider ourselves equally capable of doing things and want to inspire other artistes like us to the forefront, fostering awareness through motivational performances, in an equal and inclusive society,” said Sarath Padipura, the coordinator of Thanal.
“We consider it a great honour to sing before a crowd which enjoys every rendition and we are grateful to the convenors and organisers for giving us the privilege to perform at the hospital. This is our way of saying ‘where there is a will there is a way’,” added Sarath.
‘Arts and Medicine’, the all-Wednesday musical concert aiming to provide solace to the patients through therapeutic music, is a joint initiative of the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) and Mehboob Memorial Orchestra and is sponsored by CAFS (Casino Air Caterers and Flight Services).
‘Thanal’ has previously received the ‘Shresta Catholica Bava Puraskaram’ from the Kandanad Diocese in 2015, and was also honoured by Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan in 2017 at the Arogyakeralam Puraskaram function.