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Music school performs 318 songs in a day for unity

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Jay’s Odyssey Music made its mark in India’s Lincoln Book of Records on Sept 7 with its eight-hour-long feat featuring 200 performers.

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Free Malaysia Today
Devarasshan Loganathan delivering an energetic performance of ‘Tanggal 31’. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

KUALA LUMPUR: On Sept 7, crowds gathered at Wisma Tun Sambanthan here to witness Jay’s Odyssey Music (JOM) attempt a record-breaking feat. The music school aimed to perform 318 songs in multiple languages to make its mark in India’s Lincoln Book of Records.

The performances, which started at around 2pm and ended at 10.30pm, saw 200 performers singing or playing instruments such as the keyboards, guitar, veenai, violin, recorder, harmonium and pianica.

Aged between seven and 60, they came from throughout the Klang Valley, as well as from other states and even Singapore. Most of them were JOM students, although 22 friends and family members also participated.

While the musicians were largely of Indian heritage, the songs were performed in various languages including Malay, Chinese, English, Korean and Russian, in addition to Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam – reflecting the unifying power of music.

 

Uniquely, the 13 state anthems of Malaysia were included as part of the repertoire, during which the audience stood and sang wholeheartedly.

Free Malaysia Today
Puvaneswary Kaliapen played the veena beautifully. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

For the feat, JOM was recognised as the first in the world to perform 318 songs in multiple languages and play various instruments. Each performer also received individual certificates from the Lincoln Book of Records.

Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, founder Vijayanathan Dhaharasen said he had initially planned to hold the event before National Day, which is why “318” was chosen as it coincided with Merdeka. Patriotic songs such as “Tanggal 31” and “Saya Anak Malaysia” featured in the lineup.

Beyond showcasing his students’ talents and making their mark in the record book, Vijayanathan – also known as Jay – has another meaningful goal.

“As the country progresses, I think unity between cultures is becoming less strong in some places. This shouldn’t happen. We have the responsibility, we have to do it,” the 47-year-old said.

“I believe this event will encourage the participants to learn more about other cultures.”

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JOM founder D Vijayanathan (third right) with Lincoln Book of Records president and founder Joseph Ilanthendral, and the event organising team. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

Despite not speaking the language, 16-year-old Sri Santhanalakshmi Sivasubramaniam beautifully sang a Mandarin song titled “Tian Mi Mi”. Two of her Chinese friends had helped her learn it.

She also performed five other songs in Tamil, Malay and English, and is now inspired to learn more songs in other languages.

For Poojasri Inthiren, being exposed to a different culture isn’t something new: the 16-year-old studied in a Chinese school until Form 3. She can speak and write in Mandarin, and understands Cantonese.

During the event, she sang a Tamil and Mandarin song.

“Music is a universal language. I can be playing the piano and anyone can listen to it. You can speak Chinese and I can be an Indian, but we can understand music,” she said.

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(From left) Young performers S Sri Santhanalakshmi and Poojasri Inthiren, who performed Mandarin songs, with Pritika Puvanesvaran. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

A similar sentiment was echoed by 14-year-old Pritika Puvanesvaran, who sang and played Tamil songs on the keyboard.

“When Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazan, Dusun, Sikhs and everyone who are citizens of Malaysia work together, then there is Malaysia. This is the beauty of our motherland,” she concluded.

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