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An engineer and a singer
Crooning a popular film song
FOR A change, there was much excitement and an air of expectation on the picturesque campus of Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology.
Strangely, there were no students glancing anxiously at their watches and striding purposefully along passages and staircases, to be on time for their classes. All the lecturers and other staff were in a very relaxed mood.
It was the much-awaited day in the academic year when the students put aside their books and stayed away from lecture halls and laboratories, in order to devote all their energy to entertainment and enjoyment.
Students from various other colleges were there on the campus, for the cultural festival, "Dhwani 2003", organised by the Music and Fine Arts Club of the college, was in full swing. It was the fifth consecutive year that the festival had been celebrated.
Throughout the year, academic lectures had dominated, but now it was time to let off steam and display artistic talents and skills that would otherwise have gone unrecognised.
Appreciative audience
For the student organisers of the show, planning and scheduling the various events, looking after the guests and arranging a pleasant stay for the outstation participants were useful exercises in logistics and hospitality.
Without overstraining themselves, they had learnt a lot about coordination and preparation, besides the effectiveness of teamwork when it came to handling challenging projects. If any help was needed, it was always available from experienced staff members who kept a watchful eye upon the proceedings.
It was a show that amply demonstrated the fact that music, dance, histrionics and artistic ability were not the exclusive preserve of students in arts and science colleges. On the contrary, students in professional colleges could also put up an equally spectacular show, if only they were encouraged and provided the right opportunities.
Moreover, it also went to prove that one or two days of entertainment and enjoyment were unlikely to distract the students from their studies. It was all the more probable that all work and no play would make Jack, even if an engineer, a very dull boy.
One of the highlights of Dhwani 2003 was the appearance of Devan, the playback singer who made waves with the hit song Oh! Maria! in Kaadalar Dhinam, with Rambha dancing to the popular tune.
Why would engineering students want to invite a playback singer from the world of cinema, as a special guest for the cultural festival?
Anyone who kept thinking along these lines had the answer immediately: Devan was an electrical engineer, with more than a passing interest in music! "Engineers are a group that is above the rest. Is that right? Some of the best engineers in the world today, come from India," Devan announced with a smile and the assembled students cheered loudly in total agreement.
He was ready for some questions from the audience. "My role model is SPB. The man is a legend.
His voice gets better all the time," he said, referring to the veteran S.P. Balasubramaniam.
"Being in college is like being in a family. Everyone is united, especially the students. Despite so many forces acting to split up people, colleges and universities actually do much to bring people together," he said, throwing his mind back to his college years.
Would he like to speak about his first crush? It had been much like everyone else and it had ended when "she moved away". "Coming into music was an absolute fluke," said Devan, who is a guitarist and a pianist, besides a music composer. "I would like to get back to composing," he added.
By Michael Raj A.A.
Photos: S. Siva Saravanan
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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