Astrologer Madhu Sakthidharan Turns Singer for Patients at General Hospital

KOCHI:
He might be an astrologer by profession, but Madhu Sakthidharan sounded no less than a professional singer as he performed for patients at the weekly ‘Arts and Medicine’ programme at General Hospital here today, his inspiration driven by the spirituality found in the practice of astrology.
Hailing from Edamuttam near Thriprayar, Thrissur, Madhu Panicker, as he is also known, pursues singing as a passion. Madhu is an active member of the Kochi-based group, ‘Devatharu’ formed in memory of the legendary music director Devarajan Master.
Madhu is the chairman of the international Yoga training programme, named ‘Astroyuj’ which is based on principles of Astrology and he also leads yoga programmes oraganised in and outside India.
In a show that lasted over an hour, Madhu began with the popular song of bygone years – ‘Adwaitham Janicha Naatil’ from the 1971 malayalam movie, ‘Line Bus’ originally sung by K J Yesudas and composed by Devarajan and Vayalar combo.
He concentrated on his favourite composers, Devarajan Master and V Dakshinamoorthy, today stringing together 16 melodius numbers from the yesteryears, on some of which he was was accompanied by singers Sudarshan and Yahiya Azeez.
Madhu wound up the show with the song, ‘Chandanathil Kadanjeduthoru’, from the 1973 movie, ‘Shasthram Jayichu Manushyan Thottu’.
“The spiritual side of astrology is the driving force for me to sing, music is a treatment in itself; music can speed up the healing process to a great extent, and one has to be always in a cheerful mood to ai
d the same,” Madhu said. “The Biennale Foundation’s initiative to come up with shows of this magnitude is highly commendable.”
The musical show which is organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation in association with Mehboob Memorial Orchestra and Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre Limited, to provide solace to the patients, has successfully completed 147 episodes with this edition, having started as a weekly programme in 2014.