KOCHI: Three days after his untimely death, actor Kalabhavan Mani’s hit songs reverberated across the air of the Government General Hospital, Ernakulam, on Wednesday, when young playback singers Shyam Prasad and Praveena Vinu rendered some of them at the ‘Arts and Medicine’ show.
While his popular folk number ‘Umbayi kochandi’ evoked the memories of the popular artist, the duo also struck a melodious track by delivering ‘Minna minunge’ from the 2008 movie ‘Kabbadi Kabaddi’.
The 110th episode of the weekly show, organised by Kochi Biennale Foundation in association with Mehboob Memorial Orchestra and Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre Limited, began by paying homage to Mani, who passed away on Sunday at age 45.
“Mani popularised the folk song genre known as ‘naadan paattu’,” said Shyam. “His energy on stage is incomparable... most of us who are stage performers try to adopt Kalabhavan Mani’s style to attract the audience.”
Shyam later switched to a couple of Tamil numbers, including ‘Ilaya nila pozhigirathe’ from the movie ‘Payanangal Mudivathillai’ and ‘Ammayen’ from ‘Mannan’. Praveena crooned a few Bollywood hits. ‘Ajare Paradesi’ and ‘Surumayi Akhiyon Me’ were among them, apart from the popular Malayalam hit ‘Thenum Vayambum’.
Shyam has performed for many popular Malayalam movies, including ‘My Big Father’, ‘Mad Dad’ and ‘Teens’. He is also part of music band ‘Solid’ of renowned keyboardist Stephen Devassy. Praveena is a trained Carnatic vocalist who is now pursuing her higher studies in Hindustani music. She has specialised in singing Hindi songs.
The KBF authorities said that 111th edition of Arts and Medicine show will fully feature Kalabhavan Mani’s songs.