KANNUR: Strains of melancholy have played through her life. But on a clement Wednesday, happier notes cascaded into Vishnu Priya’s life. The 11-year-old, a Class VIII student of GVHSS Karadka, Kumbla, Kasargod, bagged the top prize in classical music competition (high school category), in the State School Youth Festival.
Struggle has been the closest companion since her birth. Fate did not give eyesight to Vishnu Priya just like her mother Asha Devi. She has gone through the Endosulfan horrors. Her father M Viswanathan, a daily wage worker, was paralysed a year ago. But Vishnu Priya showed extraordinary courage to fight against the odds. In her private battle, she received help from her relatives, teachers and neighbours.
Her younger brother Abhijin V accompanies her to music classes and school. “My mother is a good singer. I learned music from her. Since my parents are not healthy, my teachers, relatives and neighbours help me attend concerts. It’s the blessing from my music teachers helped me excel here,” said Vishnu Priya, who was attending her first Youth Festival.
Vishnu Priya’s ‘Durmargachara’, a keerthanam penned by Thyagaraja in ‘Ranjini ragam’, enthralled the audience so much on Wednesday that they appreciated it with a standing ovation.Vishnu Priya, who also won the light music competition, was initiated into the world of classical music when she was seven by Usha Bhatt, who died of cancer last year. “Usha teacher taught me classical music. My brother helped me attend regular music classes at her house. She used take me to her musical concerts, which gave me confidence,” she said. Now, she trains under T P Sreenivasan.“ She is a good student. Now,she earns income from concerts which helps her meet the school expenses,” said Jyothi Chandran, her teacher.
