‘Thikkugal ettum sithari, Pakka malaigal udainthu, Andam saayuthu’... It was a goosebump-worthy moment when members of MBS Youth Choir (MBSYC) sang the lines from Subramania Bharathi’s poem, ‘Mazhai’, with vigour and power in their voices. The poem captures the all-consuming fury of nature – heavy downpour, thunderstorm, winds, lightning and the destruction that ensues. But, on a deeper level, the poet was calling for massive, public uprising against the British.

It is one among the hundreds of songs set to tune by MB Sreenivasan or MBS, who believed that music has the power to bring in change. As the nation enters the 80th year of independence, MBSYC is not only holding fast to the legacy of MBS, who pioneered a tradition combining Indian classical and folk tradition with Western harmony, but also his objective to promote secularism, peace and unity through music.

“We are the only choir in Kerala that follows this format of singing, without break for the last 38 years,” says Ashok S, coordinator of the choir, which was an initiative of his father, late Subramania Sharma or Sharmaji. While Ashok and his sister Anitha S are the coordinators, another sibling S Santhi is the patron of the choir formed in 1988, after the passing of MBS by Sharmaji and a group of like-minded musicians and prominent figures in the cultural circle of Thiruvananthapuram.

The choir meets every Saturday at Lenin Balavadi, Vazhuthacaud, for rehearsals. “Times have changed. But what drives us is the energy we get from the songs and the dedication of the singers. Over the years, probably 1,000 singers have come and gone. Right from composer M Jayachandran, who trained under MBS and was there during the formation of the choir. He still acknowledges the role played by the choir in his musical journey,” Ashok adds.

John Mathai, 61, secretary of the choir and one of its founding members, adds that they were actually fulfilling MBS’ dream with the launch of the group. “MBS had once said that Thiruvananthapuram should have a choir. So when we got together for the condolence meeting after his sudden demise, Sharmaji recalled his wish,” says John.

The new choir soon came under the wings of Madras Youth Choir (now known as Madras MBS Choir), which was started by MBS in 1971. “Since then, every year, trainers from the choir come down to Thiruvananthapuram to teach us new songs. MBS was particular that human voices should have prominence and not the instruments. So we stick to just tabla and harmonium in our songs and at times add keyboard or guitar,” he says.

The choir currently has four conductors — Gokul VB, Sreedevi Narayanan, S Sreekumar and VS Ramachandran. Sreekumar and Ramachandran train the children’s choir also. Members who have been part of the choir from the beginning are Jayanthi B, Uma Vijayachandran (vice president), Dhanalekshmi Premjith and Ashalatha AR. B Vinod Kumar is the president.

The patriotic song repertoire has songs in over a dozen regional languages, most of them written by reputed poets. This include songs in Malayalam (‘Janmakarini’, ‘Ethu videsathu’, ‘Kezhuka priya naade’), Tamil (‘Thikkukual’, ‘Anumathiyon’, ‘Paarukkulle nalla naadu’), Hindi (‘Hind desh ke nivasi’, ‘Ye waqt ki’), Kannada (‘Cheluvina mudina’, ‘Ee mannu namudu’), Marathi (‘Aata uthau’, ‘Bharatamatha’), Assamese (‘Ei matire’), and Odia (‘Ae desha ae maati’). Among the poets who wrote the verses are P Bhaskaran, Vallathol, and ONV Kurup from Malayalam, besides those from other languages, such as Pandit Vinayachandra Maudgalya, RN Jayagopal, Sane Guruji, Sathish Das, Prem Dhawan, and Niranjan Rout.

Looking back at the journey of the choir, the senior members recall how Sharmaji put forward a suggestion to teach patriotic songs to school children in the golden jubilee year of Indian independence in 1997. Members of the choir travelled across the State to train children to perform on Independence Day at respective district headquarters. “The songs were ‘Vande Mataram’, ‘Saare jahan se achcha’ and ‘Bharatha samudayam’,” says Ashok.

At present, membership is open for those in the age group of 15 to 40. They have to audition to be part of the choir. Among the members are working professionals, homemakers, youngsters and school/college students.

At a time when the patriotic fervour of the Gen Z and Gen Alpha is being questioned, the choir has quite a few members in that age group. Bhava Priya, pursuing her post-graduation at University of Kerala, Karyavattom campus, says, “I get goosebumps every time I sing a patriotic song. I feel overwhelmed, especially while singing ‘Thikkugal’, ‘Jayabheri’, ’Aata uthau’ etc,” she says.

It is a rule that the singers have to learn all songs by heart and are not allowed to use the choirbook. “When the trainers teach us, they explain the meaning of the song as well. Thus we get more connected to the song,” John adds.

Becoming a member was an eye-opener for Kalyani PN, a Plus Two student of Cotton Hill Girls HSS, who joined around a month ago. “I didn’t know that we had so many patriotic songs until I joined the choir. There is a special feeling when I render them. My favourite is the Sanskrit song ‘Samarasa bhavana Bharata samrajyam’. I hope to continue to be part of the choir.”

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Published - August 12, 2026 11:09 pm IST