Kerala - Kochi   

Usha Uthup, crowd-puller as ever

IN SONG: Mesmerising music from the doyenne.

"When a woman falls in love with a man ... there is something for all to see the way a woman loves a man... ," crooned Usha Uthup, popular singer, at the Fine Arts Hall, Kochi, the venue where she had performed 35 years ago. Having sung half-a-dozen songs in English, Malayalam and Hindi, she mesmerised both the young and the old in the packed hall with her melodies and ability to establish a unique rapport with the audience.

The occasion was the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Cultural Academy for Peace. The academy runs Sakhi, a short-stay home for women and children in distress, in Kochi.

"Music sees you through the ups and downs of life," said Ms. Uthup, adorned in a black sari, which, she said, held many nostalgic memories for her. She started off with the song "I believe in music, I believe in love... ," conveying the message that music transcended all barriers set by language, geography and so on. "It also gives a healing touch to those in distress, as those in Sakhi. I believe that woman is `sakthi' [strength]," she said, going on to her next number, "You have got a friend, O yes Sakhi." Being a master of songs in many languages, she also sang in Malayalam: "Thudaru nin prarthana ... Daivame kaniyu nee." R.D. Burman's "Dham aur dhum... " was another number.

People needed to believe in themselves, she said, and to put across the message, sang "Get up, stand up; stand up for your rights ... come on women, don't give up your fight... "

She dedicated a nostalgic song to all Malayalis eagerly waiting the arrival of the legendary King Mahabali for Onam: `Mavin kombil oonjalaadi ... poovum nulli ... paadam thulli ... marakkenda naam chingapookkaalam ... ' A crowd-puller wherever she goes, she took a break from singing to pose for photographers.

A few songs later, it was the turn of students from St. Teresa's College to stage a skit called Kamathi, the story of how a girl defied pressure from her mother to enter the flesh trade. The portrayal of characters won applause from the audience.

Inaugurating the event, Mar Thomas Chakiath, Auxiliary Bishop of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese reminded that one would not get peace sans the godly touch. "Those who are yet to receive the godly touch are the ones responsible for all the ills and exploitation in the world."

Beena Sebastian, chairperson of the academy, said Sakhi cared for and rehabilitated unfortunate women who had nowhere to go.

John L. Paul

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