Famous reality show star of 2009 season; How life turned upside-down for Anchal native Shibu

KOLLAM: Memories of his halcyon days singing on popular television programs would evoke grief in Anchal Punchakonam native Shibhu. Born blind, Shibu was a popular face in mainstream singing events until 11 years ago. Like a deadly strike that would torment his dream, in 2013, Shibu suffered a stroke and life was never the same again. This is the year 2024, and the predicaments have not left him entirely as the old reality show contestant has never got up from his bed for the past one and a half years.

After losing his father Sashi at a very young age, Shibu’s pillar of support was his mother Thankamma, who sold her house and land near Kuttikad Mahadeva Temple to make money for Shibu’s treatment.

The treatment gave hope, as, by the end of 2014, Shibu started walking, albeit with difficulty. This continued for many years until last year when he felt weakness on the left side of his body but was left untreated due to financial straits.

Music was Shibu's companion in life. From the age of four, he could sing any song with ease. He entered the reality show in 2009. The show was a glimmer of hope to Shibu as his ardent fan Dr Giridhar helped him with an eye operation, thus gifting partial eyesight to Shibu’s left eye. However, just years after the magnanimous incident, a stroke devastated all hopes and left Shibu bedridden.

Shibu now lives in a modest setting, a one-room house built on five cents by taking huge loans and interests. The house is currently in a dilapidated stage such that a single rain can torment the sleep of the people inside. Water will accumulate everywhere when it rains, thus also making the people prone to communicable diseases. The only income is the meagre salary earned by Thankamma doing various jobs including cutting grass. Shibu’s welfare pension has been stalled for three months now.

Shibu's Google Pay No: 9061618048.