The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Whistling their melodious way to record books

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Monday, Jul 21, 2008
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Whistling their melodious way to record books

Staff Reporter

“Whistling as an art form involves many types”

— Photo: V. Ganesan

Sound record: Participants at the All-India Whistling Convention in Chennai on Sunday.

CHENNAI: Filling the air with patriotic spirit, 48 people whistled in chorus the melodious ‘Sare jahan se accha’ at the All India Whistling Convention held here on Sunday.

The excitement even reached the crescendo when M.K.Jos, Associate Editor of Limca Book of Records announced: “Your attempt has been successful.”

The group on Sunday was attempting to set a record for highest number of people whistling together.

“It is really unique and we would publish this in the Limca Book of Records (2009) if this record is not broken before our cut-off date of August 15,” said Mr.Jos.

Stress relief

A government officer present at the whistling convention said: “I have seen only whistle blowers. Now I am enjoying whistling as an art. Whistling used to be a taboo in our society. But now it has reached the level of an art …,” he added.

For 43-year-old Thomas George, who was part of the whistling team that created the record, it started as a hobby and an “excellent way of stress relief.”

R.Badrinath (52), an employee with an MNC, says, “I was persuaded by my daughter to join the whistling convention.”

“Whistling as an art form involves many types such as teeth whistling, lip whistling (in and out), bird whistling, vibrato and warble,” said S.T.Charunyanath, a member of the Indian Whistlers Association.

“As we are not very good singers we get a sense of achievement and personal accomplishment in music by training in whistling,” said S.Balaji of the Bangalore chapter of the Association. The international whistling convention is proposed to be held in India in 2010.

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