The Sunday kacheri has become so popular among many parents that people from not only Chennai but other parts of Tamil Nadu, and even Bangalore, contact Sundaram Finance these days.
Last month, a girl from Dubai, who was in Chennai on a holiday with her parents, sang at the park. But singers are selected purely on merit, Srinivasaraghavan stresses.
He proudly says that some of the kids who sing at the park get opportunities to sing in the sabhas, on television and also in films. "You don't know who comes to walk and jog here in the park. Today also, there may be people from the music industry in the crowd, and they take note of the talent."
One Sunday last year, an NRI jogger was very impressed by a group of students from a school in Vandalur who were singing bhajans and folk songs. When he came to know that they were children of illiterate labourers, he decided to donate a large amount of money to their school. "He was very moved by the talent of those children. I would say that was the biggest compliment we received in terms of action. We get to hear a lot encouraging words but this was the most gratifying moment," Srinivasaraghavan says.
He hopes one day, the park will be jam-packed with people to listen to the children, and that "would be the greatest encouragement we can give to young talent. There is nothing like a large audience listening to them and applauding!"
Text: Shobha Warrier | Photographs: Sreeram Selvaraj
Also read: Yesudas: 'I don't sing trendy music'
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