Shincy Shiju and Anand Kavumvattam at the Thrissur State School Arts Festival on Thursday. | Photo credit: KK MUSTAFAH
She was the last contestant and certainly one of the best.
Shincy Siju has a sweet voice, good diction and an unusual ability to add the right emotion to the lyrics. After her performance in the Light Music (HSS Girls) competition at the State School Arts Festival on Thursday, many came up to her to express their appreciation. Among them at the Kerala Bank Auditorium in Thrissur was the man who set the tune.
It was really a surprise for shincy, gvhss student, cadavoor. She had no idea that the song, Radhike Ghanashama Varnante…, was composed by Anand Kavumvatam from Kozhikode.
“I didn’t have a teacher for the song and decided to sing it after seeing another contestant perform it on YouTube,” she said. “It was really nice to meet the composer of the song.
The composer was really impressed with the way Shincy sang it. “I had no idea that this song of mine would be performed here at the School School Arts Festival,” said Anand. “The song was originally tuned for All India Radio, Kozhikode, a few years ago and minor changes were made when I recorded it for an album for playback singer Alka Ajith. She actually sang the song and won an award at a school festival. It was written by Janamma Kunjunni.”
Anand is disappointed that he was not given credit when the album was released on YouTube. “Nothing happened even after I spoke to the people concerned,” he said. “But incidents like this – Shincy sang it beautifully – are really rewarding. Nothing makes an artist happier. Many of my songs have already been performed at school and university competitions.”
Published – 16 Jan 2026 21:01 IST
