They may not be able to see Kollywood’s hit films, but they certainly are up to date with all the latest songs. Spending an afternoon with the St Louis Blind Orchestra under the shade of a banyan tree at their practise compound at Pallavaram, the interaction is warm and informal.
For starters, the musicians launch into an impromptu rendition of Why this Kolaveri di. This wasn’t directed at Helen Keller who’s birth anniversary is incidentally today, but if you’ve read her story – you will find that growing up deaf and blind, Keller did in fact have a lot of pent up kolaveri, especially during in her childhood years, while her governess taught her to spell.
Back to our city-based visually impaired orchestra for now. The ladies improvise the lyrics with Why this Kolaveri da after one verse. Quite a surprise for a reporter who was expecting religious harmonies and yesteryear melodies. “We do everything from OKOK and Vettai to a 1960s Karnan and Maasila Unmai Kaathale,” smiles J B James, one of the vocalists and official spokesperson of the orchestra. After over 35 years of music, the members are proud to say that this a full time job.
Accompanying the 14 member orchestra on all their performances is an elderly Brother Octavian, who founded the group in 1975. He recalls, “I was the director of the St Louis school in Adyar at the time and I saw many talented students graduate and have no job to go to.” This is how the idea came into being.
The orchestra practises five days a week, six hours a day. Octavian who doubles up as their manager and event co-ordinator adds, “We book shows all over the country - at schools, wedding functions, temples.” This team of musicians has travelled as far as Bhopal and Delhi on some of their trips. However Octavian reveals, “The number of shows vary each month so we give our musicians a fixed salary ranging between ` 6,500 and `8,000.” This is in addition to homes that were built for them by the Montford Brothers, a worldwide organisation working toward the rehabilitation of the deaf and blind.
With four vocalists fronting the orchestra, they also ensure that the songs on the set list is versatile with different languages. Says a 56-year-old Maria Teresa, a vocalist who has been with the orchestra since its inception, “We do Tamil, English, Hindi, even Telugu and Malayalam.” She adds, “It really depends on which state our next show is at.” For their upcoming gig in July at Vijaywada, they are gearing up to sing a popular Ringa Ringa from the movie Arya 2. Complete with electric guitar, percussion, violin and tambourine – one can only imagine the orchestra performing in all their zeal at their next big concert.
Could we expect a solo showcase of the St Louis Blind orchestra anytime soon? “No, I don’t think so,” responds Octavian.” Those kind of concerts require a lot of funds that we don’t have.” Publicity to promote the orchestra itself takes up quite a bulk in cost. But of course, Brother Octavian had never heard of the Facebook. Fellow musicians are invited to create a Facebook page for this musical force. They may not be able to see their audience, but then does one need sight when you can have a vision?
(To contact the St Louis Blind Orchestra, call 9884077548.)