Carnatic vocal is one USP of Father Joseph Thattarassery, but the priest also skillfully blended traditional musical sensibilities with contemporary at an hour-long concert for patients at Cochin Medical College, Kalamassery.
The middle-aged artiste was at the hospital to take part in the famous Arts and Medicine programme organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation and the Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre Ltd in association with the Mehboob Memorial Orchestra.
The 49-year-old exponent rendered songs ranging from soothing Christian devotional to Carnatic classical to peppy Malayalam film songs at the 75th edition of the music programme.
The parish priest of St Raphael's Church at suburban Vyttila has already earned a name through his Christian songs tuned to Carnatic music. He has been learning classical music for the past 12 years under Mattancherry N P Ramaswamy.
Thattarassery started with the popular vintage Christian song 'Idaya Kanyake Povuka Nee' from movie Manavatti (1964). It was followed by a string of classic Malayalam film melodies.
The audience gave him a thunderous applause after he delivered the Hamsadhwani-raga Vatapi Ganapatim by 19th-century classical composer Muthuswami Dikshitar.
The vocalist was accompanied by Geethu, a native of Kollam, who is the grand-daughter of yesteryear playback singer Radhamani.
