Son plays flute at Kalolsavam after lighting father’s funeral pyre, fulfilling his dream

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: In a touching moment of love and dedication, Harihardas, a student from Kottayam, paid tribute to his late father, singer Kalabhavan Ayyappadas, by performing at the Kerala School Kalolsavam (youth festival), despite facing personal tragedy. Hari's emotional journey unfolded after the sudden death of his father, which occurred just hours before his performance.

Hari, a Plus Two student at MGMNSSHSS., Lakkattoor, had eagerly awaited the Kalolsavam, which featured a flute competition on Sunday and a Vrindavadyam performance on Monday. His father, Kalabhavan Ayyappadas, a renowned singer, had planned to attend and watch his son perform. However, tragedy struck when Ayyappadas was killed in a fatal accident involving a bike and a bicycle on the Kottayam-Ernakulam road, just hours before the event.

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Upon hearing the news, Hari’s teachers took him home. The competition he had been preparing for was now out of reach, and Hari had to cope with the immense loss of his father. Despite the heartache, his father’s dream of performing at the fest was still alive in his heart.

Hari's determined return to stage

Despite the grief of his father's untimely death and the funeral held later that evening, Hari made an emotional decision. After performing the last rites for his father, he chose to honour his father’s memory by returning to the Kalolsavam. With his friends, Hari rejoined the festival to fulfill the dream his father had for him.

On Monday afternoon Hari took the stage for the Vrindavadyam performance, wearing his father's shirt, shoes, and chain. As he played the flute, he momentarily forgot his sadness, focusing solely on his music. However, when the performance ended, the emotions flooded back. Hari and his six friends, who performed alongside him in a tribute to Ayyappadas, were brought to tears. The audience, too, was deeply moved by the tribute.