The Hindu : National : Kadalundi native stakes claim for Guinness record

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Friday, Jan 28, 2005

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National

Kadalundi native stakes claim for Guinness record

By Our Special Correspondent

Sudheer Kadalundi

KOZHIKODE, JAN. 27 . Sudheer Kadalundi, a native of Kadalundi, about 25 km from here, has staked claim for a place in the Guinness Book of World Records by playing the tabla for 56 hours at a stretch.

At a special stage put up near the Kadalundi Railway Station, Mr. Sudheer launched his tabla marathon at 9 a.m. on January 25. It ended after 56 hours, at 7.30 p.m. tonight amid jubilation by his friends and well-wishers.

The Minister for Cultural Affairs, A.P. Anil Kumar, inaugurated Mr. Sudheer's effort to set a world record. Though he had plannned to play uninterruptedly for 50 hours, he continued for 56 hours.

The event managers said the programme had been videotaped with a clock in the background as evidence to support the claim for world record.

It would be sent to Guinness Book officials. Sudheer was allowed a 15-minute break after every eight hours.

The existing record stands in the name of Prasad Sreeram in Maharashtra in 2003. He played tabla non-stop for 46 hours.

The event generated a festival mood in rural Kadalundi. A large number of music lovers from far and near had flocked to the venue and stayed there even during the nights in a spontaneous expression of support and appreciation for Sudheer's endeavour.

A number of singers, including well-known carnatic musicians and film playback singers, had reached Kadalundi, even from afar, to sing for Sudheer.

Among the singers today was G. Venugopal, who sang a mix of his hit Malayalam film songs. A flautist was the last musician to help Sudheer complete his mission.

The event organisers said they had followed all the norms laid down for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The Inspector-General of Police, Arvind Ranjan; the City Police Commissioner, H. Venkatesh; and the Kadalundi panchayat president, Nambayil Dasan, were among those who were present when Sudheer ended his record-breaking effort.

The programme, which was named `Thalalayam 2005', was on the theme Human harmony world peace'.

Thirty-seven-year-old Sudheer started playing tabla at the age of three and has won a number of prizes in competitions.

He had caught public attention when he played the tabla non-stop for 10 hours on June 14, 2003, and for 13 hours on August 15, 2004.

Sudheer, also a photographer, runs a studio in Ariyalloor and stays at Sunil Nivas in Kadalundi with his wife, Gita, and son, Rohit.

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