Chennai-based chief consulting physician and administrator of the Santosham Chest Hospital, Egmore (estb.1976), Dr. Mathuram Santosham is a multi-skilled personality. A reputed pulmonologist, talented chorister, golf and squash enthusiast, Santosham has struck a fine balance between medicine, music and sports.
However his acknowledged pride and passion is the 85-voice choir of the Madras Musical Association (estb.1893) which over the past century and more has acquired a global reputation. In his capacity as president of MMA for two decades, Santosham has shepherded this musical ensemble through troughs and peaks. Today, the choir presents two-three full concerts in Chennai every year in aid of various causes and stages an annual Christmas show titled Carols by Candlelight. The choir’s reputation has spread far and wide and it has been invited to showcase its talent in several international music festivals around the world. Among them: the International Church Music Festival of Coventry Cathedral, UK (1998 and 2000); BBC Radio performances; World Voices Australia Choral Festival of the Sydney Opera House and the International Church Music Festival in Rome (2009).
“Right now we are preparing for our contribution to the 1,000-voice all-male choir which will sing at Alexandra Palace during the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London. Subsequently we will undertake a one-week choral tour across the UK,” says Santosham, an alumnus of the Madras Medical College, Chennai who served as senior house officer for two years in hospitals in London before returning to India in 1978 to complete his Masters degree and help out at the family-promoted Santosham Chest Hospital.
Founded by a small group of European choral music enthusiasts, the choir grew gradually and after indepen-dence flourished with the support of foreign consulates in Chennai and the widely acknowledged genius of its first Indian conductor, the late Handel Manuel. Though the choir was never disbanded, it experienced difficult times between 1980-1990 when the consulates withdrew their support, and was almost on the verge of closing down. However a few members continued to meet and set about reviving it. In 1990, Santosham took charge as president and with sponsorships from corporates, upscale hotels, and music companies began rebuilding the choir. Today the 85-member (30 men and 55 women) amateur choir comprises people from all walks of life including IT professionals, doctors, playback singers, Carnatic musicians, and homemakers.
“The differentiating characteristic of MMA is our wide repertoire which includes everything from western classical music and Broadway musical numbers to jazz, Michael Jackson, Abba, country music, Afro-American gospel, and Indo-western fusion music,” says Santosham who adds that he is looking for a successor who can take the MMA choir to ever greater heights.
But his will be a hard voice to follow.
Hemalatha Raghupathi (Chennai)