The law enforcers have struck a high note. The city police wing’s orchestra, which was given shape last year, has made a good start and is looking for a permanent venue for practice. “New recruits are running the show,” says T. Abdullakoya, an office-bearer of the Kerala Police Officers’ Association that supports the effort.
The collective has a trained organist, tabla player, flautist, and guitarist to accompany the singers. Some of them shy away from playing at big programmes. The team then seeks the support of expert players from outside. “We gave four main programmes after the launch of the troupe with 14 members last Onam,” says N.V. Shinod, the lead singer, coordinator, and a Senior Civil Police Officer.
The troupe, comprising five instrumentalists and nine singers, takes pride in their theme song Swagatham Swagatham Malayala Kilimozhiye, penned by their senior colleague Premdas Thiruvallur. Every programme begins with this song, proclaiming the police personnel’s taste for music.
“This is an initiative for all talented personnel in the police department,” says E.K. Mohanan, assistant nodal officer of the Students Police Cadet project in Kozhikode and the troupe’s tabla player. “We will expand the troupe by enrolling more,” he says.
