Trio’s Songs Come Across as Pain Balm for Patients at General Hospital

KOCHI:
More than a quarter century has passed after the movie featuring the song about the therapeutic effect of music released, yet its lines gained a new context when Geogy Thomas rendered today the core line that speaks of the art’s capacity to make even physical pain a philosophical experience.

‘Vedanaye polum vedantamaakkunna…’ crooned the playback singer, making the ditty Sangeethame Amara Sallapame from ‘Sargam’ (1992) particularly memorable for the listeners at the Government General Hospital, Ernakulam.

It turned out to be one highlight of the 259th episode of the weekly ‘Arts and Medicine’ programme organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation. The scorching heat was no deterrent for Geogy, his wife Baijy and playback singer Lasmiya Ben from the suburban Kumbalangi island amidst the backwaters.

Baijy and Lasmiya sang two songs together: the folksy Kathu kuthan eppo varum and Angane angane from a music album. Two Hindi songs were woven into the medley of 15 songs, mostly melodies. The episode was a joint initiative of the Kochi Biennale Foundation in association with Mehboob Memorial Orchestra, aiming to provide solace to patients through the medium of therapeutic music.

Geogy is also a music director, having worked for Mammootty’s Tamil film Chanakya, besides ones in Malayalam movies such as ‘Swanam’ and ‘Song of Solomon’. He completed his postgraduation in music at the University of Calicut, topping in both bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. He was also the head of the department of music at Kannur University for two years.

Singer Baijy is also a dubbing artist in movies and serials.

Uyire Uyire, the song which had the lyrics penned by A R Rahman and sung by Hariharan from the Tamil movie, ‘Bombay’, was the last in the spontaneous deliverance of songs, crooned by Geogy. “The unique facet of music is yet to be experienced by all. One positive feature I have experienced is the uplift which music brings along with it,” said Geogy.

The fourth edition of the contemporary art exhibition Kochi-Muziris Biennale which is nearing to conclusion in less than two weeks runs parallel to the therapeutic music show.