13-year-old boy unleashes musical magic at Malappuram school

When music meets magic, moments are etched in memory forever. That was what happened at St. Gemma’s Girls Higher Secondary School’s arts festival here last week.

Adwaith M. Sree, a 13-year-old musical wizard from Kozhikode, wowed the students and teachers of Malappuram school with his extraordinary gift. The boy stunned everyone by effortlessly playing not one, not two, but five musical instruments: tabla, harmonium, beatbox, melodica, and keytar.

The students and teachers were left spellbound. They said they had never experienced such a musical magic before as Adwaith juggled the instruments with ease of a seasoned maestro. He thrilled them with his retro-fusion music, playing popular hits that got everyone on their feet.

Adwaith M. Sree playing keytar after inaugurating the school arts festival at St. Gemma’s Girls Higher Secondary School, Malappuram.
| Photo Credit:
SAKEER HUSSAIN

Adwaith, an eighth-standard student from Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Kozhikode, was the chief guest at the function. After kicking off the festival by lighting the lamp, he unfolded his musical wizardry.

He set the tone with his stage performance on tabla, harmonium, cajon (beatbox), melodica and keytar, introducing each to the students. He played ‘Oru murai vanthu paarthaaya’ on tabla, ‘Kajara muhabbat wala, ankhiyo me aisa dala’ on harmonium and ‘Chirapunji mazhayath, nilaavanji thuzhanjeth’ on melodica, sending students and teachers lilting and swaying in unison to the melodies. But little did the students know that his piece de resistance was yet to come.

Headmistress E.A. Shijimol handing over a memento to Adwaith M. Sree after he inaugurated the school arts festival at St. Gemma’s Girls Higher Secondary School, Malappuram.
| Photo Credit:
SAKEER HUSSAIN

Stepping down into the crowd, Adwaith was surrounded by a sea of dancing girls. Keytar in hand, Adwaith mesmerised the dancing girls and put them in a musical trance. Some veteran teachers managing the stage and the students stood stunned. Their silence was testament to the boy’s electrifying performance that brought the house down.

Amidst the swaying teachers were a couple of nuns in white habits caught up in the infectious energy. Adwaith, visibly inspired by the dancing girls around him, launched into a 10-minute medley, blending popular hits from Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam.

His lively performance of ‘Appudi podu podu podu, asathi podu kannaalae’, ‘Velmuruga haro hara, velayudha haro hara’ and ‘Tu cheez badi hai mast mast’ whipped the crowd into an ecstatic frenzy. Some girls who followed him on Instagram cheered him on and demanded more.

Adwaith M. Sree showing his mastery over keytar, a musical instrument that combines elements of a keyboard and a guitar, at St. Gemma’s Girls Higher Secondary School, Malappuram.
| Photo Credit:
SAKEER HUSSAIN

Many students jumped at the chance to take photos with Adwaith after his hour-long show. School manager Sr. Luseena, principal Sr. Joicy, headmistress E.A. Shijimol, PTA president M. Sajeeb and mother PTA president Ranimol Joseph heaped praise on the young talent.

Adwaith’s keytar performance drew comparisons to keyboard maestro Stephen Devassy, with many fans seeing him as a potential protege who could even excel his idol. Mr. Devassy, impressed by Adwaith’s debut at Kozhikode beach recently, showed his appreciation by blessing him on social media.