Daughter's music becomes painkillers for Rajeev; Krishnaveni bags first place in district kalolsavam

NEYYATTINKARA: Rajeev's eyes filled with tears as his daughter Krishnaveni played the Veena at the district kalolsavam venue. She got first place with an A grade just like her father, who was cured of cancer, wanted. Krishnaveni held her father close and kissed him on the forehead. Her mother Rajitha's eyes were also watery.

Krishnaveni is a ninth-standard student of Neyyattinkara Girls GHSS. When Rajeev G Nair, who was diagnosed with cancer, left his job in Behren and returned home, his daughter was four years old. Even as the treatment continued, Rajiv took his daughter to learn music to fulfil her wish. Even when the disease increased, Rajeev did not back down. When the songs and hymns sung by his daughter filled Rajiv's mind, they became painkillers for him. Rajeev recovered from the disease a year ago. The disease, which affected the neck and one side of the face, was completely cured. In previous years too, Rajeev used to come to school kalolsavams with his daughter. Krishnaveni used to compete in classical music back then.

It was Saroja, a music teacher at the school, who advised Krishnaveni to study Veena as well. Four months ago, with the help of his friend Kishore, Rajeev bought a Veena for Rs 40,000 and gifted it to his daughter. Saroja, the teacher in the school, and Anil and Dr Nisha outside the school became Krishnaveni's trainers.

Krishnaveni qualified to participate in the state-level kalolsavam by performing the Swathi Thirunal keerthanam "Padmanabha Paahi", which she had mastered in four months.

Krishnaveni's mother Rajitha is a temporary teacher at Neyyattinkara Girls GHSS. Her brother is Sreehari Nair, a fourth-standard student.