4 months ago
2
When the Chitlapakkam water shimmers successful the gloaming, euphony floats crossed the promenade, disrupting walkers’ routine, turning them into anxious rasikas. The “disrupter-in-chief” is V.S. Anantharaman, a retired Development Officer, United India Insurance Company, who wades successful with a humble acceptable of instruments, a microphone and a donation box. A donation container indeed! A tiny ensemble of visually challenged musicians assistance Anantharaman successful these regular euphony performances and are successful crook benefitted by the generosity of the listeners. The nonsubjective of these regular euphony performances travels connected a dual-track: one, supporting those visually challenged musicians arsenic good arsenic underprivileged families; and the different evident 1 has to bash with keeping water visitors entertained.
The performance begins astatine 5.30 p.m. archetypal moving done a acceptable of Hindu, Christian and Muslim devotional songs, striking the chord of unity successful a resounding manner. Following this, arsenic the shadows deepen, the water is doused successful sounds of fashionable movie songs.
Anantharaman founded this karaoke orchestra, “Ananda Raagham Innisai Kuzhu”, pursuing his status from UIIC, Tambaram, letting his passionateness for euphony thrust a societal service. Among the regular performers are Syed, known for his effortless renditions of T.M. Soundararajan’s songs, and James, whose repertoire of Hindi songs includes classics by Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi. Their music, water regulars say, adds warmth to the renovated nationalist space.
“With the water present a hub for walkers and quality lovers, the euphony enhances our regular routine,” says Charles, an IT nonrecreational and regular visitor.
An progressive vocalist himself, Anantharaman had earlier been portion of Ayyappa troupes performing devotional songs successful praise of Lord Ayyappa, too amateur euphony orchestras. “Meeting Prabhakar, a talented but physically challenged vocalist astatine the mobile orchestra successful Tambaram, moved maine deeply. I felt this should go a nationalist cause,” helium recalls.
After Prabhakar’s passing, the radical continued its enactment for Syed and James, who person since go acquainted voices on the lake. Several walkers, including Amritaraj and Ramaswamy, person besides joined the effort arsenic unpaid singers.
An extended mission
Beyond supporting the 2 artistes and their families, the radical funds the acquisition of six children from economically weaker sections and provides indispensable provisions to an adjacent fig of underprivileged families. The yearly expenditure, Anantharaman says, is astir ₹3 lakh.
Anantharaman tin beryllium contacted astatine 9444269926.
