Biennale-time Concert: Naipunnya School Showers ‘Musical Nanma’ on Patients

KOCHI:
Aptly named ‘Nanma’ going by their inclination for charity, a troupe of students, teachers and parents with an education institution in Kochi sang soothingly for the patients at Government General hospital here today.

Naipunnya Public school at Trikkakara became the newest participant at the weekly ‘Arts and Medicine’ music show, which is an initiative of the Kochi Biennale Foundation in association with Mehboob Memorial Orchestra. Today’s was the all-Wednesday programme’s 252nd episode of the series that brings interactive and live music sessions in the hospital premises with the aim of providing solace to patients.

Francis K A, principal of Naipunnya Public School, handed over a cheque to the RMO for the use of the hospital’s oncology department. The school’s director, Fr Paul Meladath, was also present. Seven students of Naipunnya, backed by their music teacher Shemeena Kassim, Abhilash Panicker, Sunil Raj and Amitha Bevi Josnan, rendered balmy songs that suited the occasion. The parents included noted singers: Minmini (of Chinna Chinna Aasai fame), her husband Joy Mathew and Idea star singer Joby John, Dhanya and Radha Lakshmi.

A chunk of the songs, totaling 16, were in Malayalam. There was a ditty each in Tamil and Hindi. Naipunnya teacher Ammini Tomy, who is coordinator of ‘Nanma’, said the students (from classes third to tenth) were given a careful choice of songs. “When it comes to performing for the enjoyment of others, the students display great zeal and confidence,” she said.

Minmini opened up the show with ‘Lokam muzhuvan sukham pakaraan’ and then played the role of the concluder with another hit ‘Akale neelakasham’ that hoped for brighter days. The student singers were Riddhi D, Dhiya Suresh, Anna Keerthana K J, Mehra Hassan, Meenakshi, Naval Thomas and Amaana Susan Saji.