ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
He legend promised entertainment par excellence in Auckland … and entertain he did.
Padmabhushan Dr Kattassery Joseph Yesudas and his troupe of KS Chitra, son Vijay Yesudas and fledgling Shweta Mohan enthralled the crowd at Victory Centre in Beaumont St on their recent “Yesudas @50” tour.
Right from the entrance and welcome by a traditional Maori group, Dr Yesudas and Co kept the foot on the pedal for a charged performance embraced enthusiastically by the capacity 1600 crowd. Some of the well loved numbers by Dr Yesudas were “Athisaya Ragam (Tamil), Pramadavanam (Malayalam) and Gori Thera (Hindi).
KS Chitra, better known as “Chinna Kuyil” (Nightingale of South) dazzled the audience with numbers like Kannalanae (Bombay), Ovvoru Pookalumae, and Paadariyen Padippariyen.
Up and coming Vijay Yesudas displayed his coming of age in the industry with growing confidence with songs such as Pretty Woman, Thaavani Potta, Kolakuzhal and Vizhiketo. Shweta Mohan proved what a bright star she is with her powerful renditions of numbers like Kaatrin Mozhi, Netru Illatha Maatram, and Nee Korinaal.
But the star of the evening was the 23-year-old flutist in the group, Nikhil Ram of Kerala (Malayalam).
The talented young man drew huge applause when he played flute and sax for “Anjali Anjali” song.
Ram is another rising young star of the Kollywood (Kollywood stands for Kodampakkam in Chennai where all the film related things happen) music industry.
He has been in the industry as a wind instrumentalist for six years now, having worked with almost every playback singer in the industry. He has recorded for many films, including a Hollywood movie.
Throughout his career, he has performed in numerous live shows abroad, in places such as the United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.
The “Yesudas@50” tour was organised by the Gandhi Illam New Zealand Trust and all proceeds from the show were dedicated to Project Hope, an initiative of the trust to provide funding towards the welfare of children in northeast Sri Lanka.
He legend promised entertainment par excellence in Auckland … and entertain he did.
Padmabhushan Dr Kattassery Joseph Yesudas and his troupe of KS Chitra, son Vijay Yesudas and fledgling Shweta Mohan enthralled the crowd at Victory Centre in Beaumont St on their recent “Yesudas @50” tour.
Right...
He legend promised entertainment par excellence in Auckland … and entertain he did.
Padmabhushan Dr Kattassery Joseph Yesudas and his troupe of KS Chitra, son Vijay Yesudas and fledgling Shweta Mohan enthralled the crowd at Victory Centre in Beaumont St on their recent “Yesudas @50” tour.
Right from the entrance and welcome by a traditional Maori group, Dr Yesudas and Co kept the foot on the pedal for a charged performance embraced enthusiastically by the capacity 1600 crowd. Some of the well loved numbers by Dr Yesudas were “Athisaya Ragam (Tamil), Pramadavanam (Malayalam) and Gori Thera (Hindi).
KS Chitra, better known as “Chinna Kuyil” (Nightingale of South) dazzled the audience with numbers like Kannalanae (Bombay), Ovvoru Pookalumae, and Paadariyen Padippariyen.
Up and coming Vijay Yesudas displayed his coming of age in the industry with growing confidence with songs such as Pretty Woman, Thaavani Potta, Kolakuzhal and Vizhiketo. Shweta Mohan proved what a bright star she is with her powerful renditions of numbers like Kaatrin Mozhi, Netru Illatha Maatram, and Nee Korinaal.
But the star of the evening was the 23-year-old flutist in the group, Nikhil Ram of Kerala (Malayalam).
The talented young man drew huge applause when he played flute and sax for “Anjali Anjali” song.
Ram is another rising young star of the Kollywood (Kollywood stands for Kodampakkam in Chennai where all the film related things happen) music industry.
He has been in the industry as a wind instrumentalist for six years now, having worked with almost every playback singer in the industry. He has recorded for many films, including a Hollywood movie.
Throughout his career, he has performed in numerous live shows abroad, in places such as the United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.
The “Yesudas@50” tour was organised by the Gandhi Illam New Zealand Trust and all proceeds from the show were dedicated to Project Hope, an initiative of the trust to provide funding towards the welfare of children in northeast Sri Lanka.
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