Last July, noted oncologist V.P. Gangadharan entertained patients and bystanders at Ernakulam General Hospital with melodies rendered on the ‘bulbul tarang’.
On Wednesday, as the 62{+n}{+d}edition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale’s ‘arts and music’ programme got under way, he chose to play the evergreen ‘ Yeh dosti, hum nahin chhodenge’ from the blockbuster ‘Sholay’ on the mouth organ, as his contemporaries from Maharaja’s College watched the musician in awe and affection.
The iconic oncologist’s performances at the youth festivals were recalled by his peers as he went on to play, ‘ Manasa Mani Veenayil’ . Ditto with former Ernakulam collector K.R. Viswambharan, an alumnus of the Maharaja’s College, who sang ‘ Shyamasundara Pushpame ’ from the 1977-film ‘Yudhakandam’!
‘Santhwanam’, as Wednesday’s edition of the celebrated event was called, was conducted by a group of old students from Maharaja’s in collaboration with Mehboob Memorial Orchestra and the Lakeshore hospital.
“Though I am not an artist, I am glad to perform at this event which brings solace to the patients,” said Dr. Viswambharan. Dr. Gangadharan, however, was ‘deeply impressed’ by the programme.
The show acquired an added colour and vibrancy as retired sub-inspector S. Prahladan and his daughter Aswathy belted out the vintage duet, ‘ Chandrikayil aliyunnu ’.
Earlier, composer and Bhajan singer T.S. Radhakrishnan began the programme with a devotional song ‘ Oru neramenkilum Kanaathe’ , observing that music has the power to heal every kind of mental and physical stress.
The crowd began to swell when professional singers like Annie, Williams, Shashankan, Pappi, Francis and Lakshmi performed famous ditties. Artist Kalabhavan Anzar presented the event, interspersing songs with anecdotes from his college days.
P.T. Thomas, former parliamentarian and a Maharaja’s alumnus, addressed the crowd ahead of the show. Former Maharaja’s Principal K. Aravindakshan was also present.
The event drew to a close with the group song: ‘Lokam muzhuvan sukham pakaranay….’
