KOCHI: It was a momentous occasion for the students of Raksha School for Differently-abled children at Panayappilly in Mattancherry on Thursday when popular Malayalam playback singer Afsal served up a grand musical treat for them as part of the ‘Arts and Medicine’ project of the Kochi Biennale Foundation.
Around 90-100 students of the school under Raksha Society for Children with Special Needs attended the event. It was the first ever ‘Arts and Medicine’ programme organised outside Ernakulam Government General Hospital premises since its launch in February.The musical event, organised in association with Mehboob Memorial Orchestra, also paid tribute to legendary singer Mohammed Rafi on the 34th anniversary of his death.
Students clapped and swayed to the tunes of popular songs rendered by Afsal including ‘Vathilil aa vathilil...’ from movie Ustad Hotel, ‘Baharon phool barsao...’ from movie Suraj and ‘Mehruba mehruba...’ from Perumazhakkalam as the teachers and parents watched happily. Two students Kailesh and Jiya also joined Afsal. While Kailesh beautifully rendered ‘kallayi kadavathe...’ from movie Perumazhakkalam, Jiya chipped in with a popular Tamil song.
Ragini Menon, secretary of the Raksha Society, and teachers Jipson and Swapna also sang for the students. Raksha Society, founded in April 1985, aims to enhance the quality of life for children and young adults with disabilities and lend a helping hand to their families by providing individualised programmes, services and supports. Encouraged by the overwhelming response to the ‘Arts and Medicine’ project, the KBF has decided to expand the initiative to special schools, palliative care units, de-addiction centres and old-age homes in the coming days.