KOCHI:
Famed as the ‘Maradona’ performer ever since he sang with Deigo Maradona during the football legend’s visit to Kerala, vocalist Charles Antony today entertained patients at the Government General Hospital here as part of the weekly ‘Arts and Medicine’ show of Biennale music.
The city-based artiste who can sing in 14 languages began the show with ‘May God Bless and Keep You’, originally rendered by American country singer Jim Reeves. It was followed by the same Spanish numbe
r that catapulted Charles to fame.
The session also paid tributes to J Jayalalithaa, who died in harness as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, and Cuban President Fidel Castro who also passed away recently through the song ‘Thenpandi Cheemaiyile’ from the film ‘ Nayakan’ and a Cuban traditional number ‘Guantanamera’.
Equipped with a mouth organ and an acoustic guitar, the two instruments which keep him company everywhere, Charles served up a musical treat to an audience of patients, hospital staff and bystanders by s
eamlessly gliding from one language to another in the show.
The event also ushered in festive season with the evergreen ‘Jingle Bell’ carol. Members of the audience were invited on the stage to sing along in the show which also saw singers Selvaraj and Sajan render Malayalam songs ‘Mizhiyoram’ and ‘Alliyambal’ .
The one-and-a half hour show concluded with the Tamil number ‘Kanne Kalaimane’, which was sung by Charles on special request.
The vocalist who had kickstarted his career with a two member band Collins and Charles, later gained recognitions with his solo performances. With no formal singing training, Charles now sings effortlessly in Spanish, Italian, French, German, Mexican, Russian, African, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Hebrew, Sinhala, Indonesian and Malaysian.
“I was honoured to sing at a party organised by His Highness Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia, I consider it as a once-in-a lifetime opportunity, a dream well fulfilled”, said the singer.
Charles was the only Indian at the Europe Multicultural Festival in June which included bands from around the world and he was subsequently interviewed by the Austrian Radio. Attired to suit the genre of music that he renders, Charles has sung for charity events, parties and in hotels, eventually getting invited to foreign countries like Dubai, Qatar and Bahrain.
“I enjoy what I do at present, language is no bar for music, it gives me immense pleasure to be able to sing for a crowd at the hospital which derives solace from my song delivery. Music therapy through singing gives mental satisfaction which nothing else can offer”, added the singer.
This programme marked the 146th episode of ‘Arts and Medicine’ which is organized by Kochi Biennale Foundation in association with Mehboob Memorial Orchestra and Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre Limited.
