Driving through the busy thoroughfares of the temple city, the mellifluous renditions of devotional and film numbers by a group of visually challenged singers is hard to be left unnoticed.
For the past few weeks, these singers, hailing from Navajyothi Musical Orchestra, have been performing in the streets of Tirupati, seeking funds for pursuing their higher education and skill development.
‘Not seeking sympathy’
Equipped with a microphone, portable speaker and an audio player to render karaoke tracks, they enliven the warm summer evenings in Tirupati. “Though several denizens have supported our cause, we also faced unsavoury comments about our performances from some people. We are here to showcase our talent, not seek sympathy,” remarked A. Pothulaiah, pausing between the rendition of “ Edukondala Swamy... Ekkadunnavayya... ”, sung by legendary singer Ghantasala.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Pothulaiah, who resides at Navajyothi Welfare Centre for Physically Handicapped in Managalam, on the outskirts of Tirupati, said several of the inmates had completed their graduation, and lack of proper employment had compelled them to explore their talent in singing.
“The centre’s founder, N. Sambasiva Rao, a musician himself, has taught us the basics. Since then, we have formed a small music troupe and have urged several government and private organisations for a chance to perform during events. With very little encouragement, we chose to focus on our education and develop our skills. Our main intention is to collect funds for those (inmates of Navajyothi Welfare Centre) willing to pursue higher education or improve their skill set. While some of us have been performing in Tirupati, another group is currently in Nellore district,” said other singers in the troupe, Sai, Gopi and organiser Chandrasekhar.
The centre also trains the inmates in making candles and soaps, computers and other vocations, besides providing them with boarding and lodging.
Devotional songs
Further elucidating on their street singing activity in the evening, the singers asserted that, everyday, they randomly choose a place across the temple city for holding their performances from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“We usually begin with devotional songs and later perform melodious film numbers, instead of the catchy, jumpy ones,” said Gopi, playing the karaoke versions for popular Ilaiyaraaja songs.
Though, they cannot observe the response for their performances, the street singers said if they can make the passers-by pause for a moment, they have done their part.
