Visually impaired musicians hampered by lack of good instruments, funds

MANGALURU: They are visually impaired, but enthral the audience with their music. Members of the Sri Annapoorneshwari Andhara Geetha Gayana Sangha of Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district have presented musical programme at over 500 places. Sadly, they still don't have a good keyboard, rhythm pad and, above all, they lack financial support.
A team of eight members of the Sangha were in Mangaluru last week to showcase their talent and raise money to buy equipment for their band.However, due to lack of publicity, the programme at the NGO Hall didn't have a huge audience.
Raghavendra M Naik, who is also visually impaired, told TOI the troupe started in May 2011 has performed at various places in Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Koppala and Bengaluru. "Our group has 17 members and we have a small keyboard, tabla and two dholaks. Our only source of income is holding music programmes. The amount we get from them is shared among the participating members. We're not able to present programmes to a larger audience as we don't have modern musical instruments, especially a better keyboard and rhythm pad. We look forward to donors lending a helping hand," said Naik, who plays the dholak and tabla.
Troupe members Ramkumar, Yasmin (both singers), Musthafa (keyboard), Krishnaji (tabla), Devendra, (dholak) and John Fernandes (rhythm) are from different parts of the state. They meet when they have to present a programme, he said. "We have been honoured by several organisations. We have presented over 100 programmes in Kundapur in Udupi district. Our programmes are based on their musical preference -- be it Hindustani, Carnatic, folk or semi-classical," Naik said.
Vinobha.KT@timesgroup.com
MANGALURU: They are visually impaired, but enthral the audience with their music. Members of the Sri Annapoorneshwari Andhara Geetha Gayana Sangha of Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district have presented musical programme at over 500 places. Sadly, they still don't have a good keyboard, rhythm pad and, above all, they lack financial support.
A team of eight members of the Sangha were in Mangaluru last week to showcase their talent and raise money to buy equipment for their band. However, due to lack of publicity, the programme at the NGO Hall didn't have a huge audience.
Raghavendra M Naik, who is also visually impaired, told TOI the troupe started in May 2011 has performed at various places in Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Koppala and Bengaluru. "Our group has 17 members and we have a small keyboard, tabla and two dholaks. Our only source of income is holding music programmes. The amount we get from them is shared among the participating members. We're not able to present programmes to a larger audience as we don't have modern musical instruments, especially a better keyboard and rhythm pad. We look forward to donors lending a helping hand," said Naik, who plays the dholak and tabla.
Troupe members Ramkumar, Yasmin (both singers), Musthafa (keyboard), Krishnaji (tabla), Devendra, (dholak) and John Fernandes (rhythm) are from different parts of the state. They meet when they have to present a programme, he said. "We have been honoured by several organisations. We have presented over 100 programmes in Kundapur in Udupi district. Our programmes are based on their musical preference -- be it Hindustani, Carnatic, folk or semi-classical," Naik said.