KOCHI: Music has been their life these 21 years. Vinod Kumar and his wife Uma are known for the bhajans they sing in temples as they put their heart and soul into the songs praising the almighty.
Vinod, a native of Ernakulam, started his musical journey from Chavara Cultural Centre at a young age. He started a music troupe, ‘Symphony,’ with his friends and after a couple of years joined ‘Thyagabrahmam,’ the first ever music band for devotional songs. For Uma, the entry to music was during her school days under guru Sivaraman Nair. Like her brother Biju Narayanan, she got hooked on music and started participating in competitions.
She was selected as the “Music princess’ for coming first in the light music competition organised by Stallions International Cochin three times.
“I remember singing the old song ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’ with a live orchestra for Samuel Memorial Arts Club. That was my debut.
Then I sang a bhajan at Edappally Thrikkovil,” says Uma while Vinod recalls that his first recording was for the devotional album, ‘Sai Prasadam’ which was composed by T S Radhakrishnan.
“After marriage we got many stage events, ganamelas and TV programmes. We have sung with playback singers like K J Yesudas, P Susheela, K S Chitra and Jayachandran under the aegis of ‘Thyagabrahmam,” says Vinod.
“Once P Susheela asked me to sing a duet with her after I did a solo. I consider it a real recognition,” says Vinod. He sang a mappilapattu in the album, ‘Kensul Maimoon,’ in 2007 which was selected by the Jyothirmaya Charitable Society, Dubai, as the song of the year. He has composed songs for six devotional albums too.
It is the songs of the golden era that both Vinod and Uma prefer to sing. They have sung for three serials and countless TV programmes.
Now they are planning a programme with playback singer Jayachandran at Koodal Manikkyam temple in May.
“We get a number of invitations to sing in all major temples in the state. Singing bhajans is like offering prayers,” says Vinod. The couple has a son, Ranjith Krishna, studying at SH College, Thevara.
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