KOCHI:
A meandering course of professions he has undergone all his life found echoes in a musical concert Navas Moidhu gave at the ‘Arts and Medicine’ show at the Government General hospital here today midway the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.
Navas, who had been an employee at Gulf with a construction company, has switched trades over time to currently earn livelihood as an auto taxi driver in his native Kerala even while settling as a professional singer. At the latest edition of the all-Wednesday ‘Arts and Medicine’ show being organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation, he donned the hat of an entertainer.
The Kochiite vocalist, with his music band named ‘The Queen of the Arabian Sea’, has been successful in bringing out music albums successfully. His ‘Meghamai’, ‘Kochi Kombanmar’ and ‘Vayanadan Kaadu Poothu’ have had received encouraging public response. An online entertainer and also a performer in a leading television channel, Navas’s passion for music continues to find varied platforms.
The music and lyrics of Navas’s songs in his albums have been the fruits of his hard work. At the concert today as part of the ongoing 108-day biennale, the artiste remembered the roles he played in his life — from being a caretaker to supervisor to an administrator. “This is all part of life,” he said. “The happiness we earn in life should be shared with others through music, if it can give them relief and joy.”
Navas was accompanied by a young talent, Kochin Riyas, who has shared stage with him on several occasions. Riyas sounded like a perfect match for Navas in his renditions and earned applause from the audience comprising, patients, bystanders and medical staff.
The 253rd episode of the weekly programme, typically convened in collaboration with the Mehboob Memorial Orchestra of Fort Kochi, featured a total of 14 songs. The event began with Malayalam film song, Keralam Keralam Kelikottuyarunna Keralam, which depicts the scenic beauty of the southern Indian coastal state and the traditions that go hand in hand with its heritage. The ditty was followed by a Hindi evergreen number, Kya Hua Tera Wada.
Dr. Rani J S, gynaecologist at the hospital joined in, rendering Manjani kombil (from the 1980, blockbuster ‘Manjil Virinja Pookal’) and Devadaru Poothu (‘Engane Nee Marakum’ 1983). Riyas crooned half-a-dozen songs in Hindi and Malayalam. The Hindi numbers at the concert included Pehla Nasha, Yeh Dosti, Chehra HainYa Chand Khila.
Arts and Medicine is a joint initiative that aims to provide solace to patients. The programme completes its fifth year next week.
