THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: From exhaust notes to melodic scores, a group of KSRTC employees are looking to tune themselves up for runaway success.
The 18-strong musical ensemble -- named ‘Ganavandi’ — will debut on Thursday at the Uchakkada Sree Durga Sree Dharmashastha temple, on the outskirts of the capital city.
The musicians were assembled as part of an enterprising move to break the monotony of work and generate additional revenue for the corporation, which continues to struggle with its finances.
The troupe brings together drivers, conductors and mechanics from depots as spread out as Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Pala, Vaikom, and Edapal -- and their family members.
Selected on the basis of auditions, the well-drilled group’s premiere will be a two-hour programme that will be interspersed with mimicry acts.
The show will open with a classical performance by Neelambari, a Class 5 student and daughter of KSRTC conductor Devadas from Idukki.
“The debut is crucial,” says Hena P N, KSRTC’s chief law officer and cultural coordinator.
“Its success will help us further structure the troupe. We already have a pool of talented employees across zones who have volunteered out of their passion for art, and their skills will be utilised based on programme locations.”
The group has already secured six bookings across the state.
Transport minister had mooted the idea
It was the idea of Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, who wanted to cash in on the viral popularity of musical performances of the corporation’s employees.
The acts at the Transport Expo held in August set the stage for the creation of the troupe.
The shortlisted employees were asked to appear for auditions and those in the final list were given training at various depots. An employee even got his relative Sujin Dev, a music composer, to help put the group together.
According to Hena, KSRTC is yet to finalise the remuneration for the first show. “In future, the cultural committee will decide the fee. The revenue will go to the KSRTC. We have already received sponsorship and it is going to generate profit,” she added.
Ahead of its debut, the troupe will have its final rehearsal at Neyyattinkara depot.