Niharika
“Can I find the road to nowhere, die a little bit too early.
World that is too much to take, the end of the story…no one told me.”
- “The Untold Story” (ESION, 2006)
Arjun Vasudev; musician, actor, film maker, footballer, mentor, brother….friend. RJ as he was affectionately called, an alumni of PSBB K.K.Nagar and Loyola College (Dept of Media Studies) died in a fatal road accident on the of March 27, 2009. He was just 18 years old.
Music and life
Arjun was Chennai's premier rock guitarist who had won accolades for his music. He was a part of the well known bands as ESION-TWKC and Armour of God. He went on to win Best Metal Guitarist at Underground 08. Last May his family and friends organised a tribute Cconcert celebrating his life and achievements – aptly titled “OuRJ”. The show took place at Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan School grounds, where he spent his formative years, which was converted to a massive rock arena where more than 1200 people gathered to pay tribute to Arjun, most of whose lives were touched by the young man.
The night included performances by RJ's band ESION. Which performed songs written and composed by Arjun Vasudev and covers from artists whom RJ drew inspiration. The Concert was chaired by Dr.Sri M.S.Vishwanathan ; RJ's grand uncle and Godfather and included the performance of one of the many hits of Sri Vishwanathan's “Engirunthalum Vazhga” by its original singer Sri A.L.Raghavan. Saroop Oomen of The Unwind Centre and School of Music, a friend and mentor of RJ's delivered a short talk on “Responsible Rock” and played an acoustic medley of Martha's Vineyard classics. The Students and Alumni of the Loyola College School of Media studies' Department of Visual Communication put together interview montages and 10 minute short films that were screened during the concert making it a one of a kind sound and lights show.
The surplus collection of Rs.40,000/- from OuRJ 09 was contributed towards the rehabilitation and medical expenses of young Sathvika ( student of PSBB), recuperating from a severe bout of encephalitis due to which she has been in coma since February 2009.
Following the event and from generous contributions from many impacted by the loss of the loved one a Benevolent Trust was formed in Arjun's name. The Arjun Vasudev Benevolent Trust, initiated to keep alive Arjun's aspiration, aims to provide a platform for school and college children to showcase their talents in the audio visual arena – music, film and theatre; and is designed to promote road safety causes and provide financial support in cases of road related hospital Emergencies. The Fund currently provides for the “Arjun Vasudev award for Best Metal Guitarist” prize at the Unwind Center's annual music competition and “Best Short film” and “Most Promising Graduating Student” within the Visual Communication Department at the Loyola College.
Proceeds from each year's event will be made available to a new cause, within the objectives of the Trust. This year, the Trust has organised an MOU with a few city hospitals that provides financial assistance for immediate at-hospital emergency care for road accident victims.
For more information visit www.arjunvasudev.com .The show is to take place on the May 29 at the Nadigar Sangham Auditorium, T Nagar
Niharika is a II year BA Literature student of Stella Maris College.
