KANNUR: To her, it was darkness everywhere, but Shifna’s eyes were glittering as if they were celebrating her victory. Shifna Mariyam, a visually impaired Class X student of Government Model Girls High School, Pattom, who came through appeal, won second prize and ‘A’ grade in the mimicry competition. Shifna went to contest in the district-level competition from hospital bed.
“I was undergoing treatment during the time of the district festival. But I am sure that I gave my best there,” Shifna explained why she went for appeal to contest at the state level.
It was two years ago that she was affected by a rare disease called ‘atonic bladder flora syndrome’, which causes problems in passing urine. Even now, her urine is being passed through a tube. Shifna had emerged winner in the state school arts festival two years ago.
That too without any formal training. “The very next day of my competition, I got a call from from noted mimicry artist Pradeep Lal offering training. This is how I got a coach,” she says. Lal has been composing themes for all her competitions since then.
“She used to imitate her grandmother’s voice since childhood. Also, she was so fast at catching various sounds, including railway station announcements, as our house is near the railway station,” says Shahina, her mother.