Malappuram: When Neeraj Bal hits the Carnatic note with perfection or does a magical bowing on the violin, his cerebral palsy-affected elder brother breaks into a rapturous applause in his own way.
Aditya Bal will always be in the front row to encourage his brother whenever Neeraj, who came first in violin and Carnatic music competitions in the District School Art fest, performs on the stage.
It was Aditya, a degree student of the Kozhikode Government College, who introduced his brother into the world of music. Native of Kakkanchery in Malappuram district, they went to noted musician Kaithapram Vishwanathan in Kozhikode to practise music therapy as a healing technique for Aditya’s medical condition. Later, Neeraj got hooked on to music and started learning violin and Carnatic music.
This is the third time Neeraj, a Class 11 student of St Paul’s English Medium School at Thenjipalam, had topped the district in violin competition. He also came up trumps twice in Carnatic music at the district level. Neeraj has also secured ‘A’ grade in State School Art fest.
