MARINE MELODY STRIKE FORCE
The New Indian Express Kochi|December 11, 2024
Recently, the Southern Naval Command's acclaimed band enthralled the audience at the Kerala Fine Arts Hall in Kochi. TNIE speaks to the two Indian Navy officers who anchored this musical triumph
RONNIE KURIAKOSE
MARINE MELODY STRIKE FORCE

Tuesday saw men in uniform take to the stage where maestros of Indian classical music Madurai Mani Iyer and M S Subbulakshmi had once enthralled thousands.

These men - members of the renowned Indian Navy Band (Southern Naval Command) - dressed in pristine whites, delivered a similarly captivating performance in what was their first-ever concert at the hallowed Kerala Fine Arts Hall in Kochi.

TNIE caught up with Commander Vijay Charles D'Cruz and Commander Manoj Sebastian, the band's principal and deputy conductors, to uncover the secret behind their stellar performances.

What followed was a candid conversation about the band's history, achievements, training routines and more.

The band's history

"The first band of the Indian Navy was commissioned in 1945 in Mumbai with a strength of 50 musicians under the leadership of Lt Cdr S E Hills.

They were stationed at Castle Barracks, now known as INS Angre.

The band primarily consisted of personnel from the bands of various princely states," said Cdr Vijay.

Lt Cdr Hills, notably, was himself associated with the band of the Maharaja of Rampur.

"Fast forward to the 1970s, bands were established at most naval bases, including Kochi.

Today, the Indian Navy Band has evolved into a full-fledged cadre of 500 musicians, spread across 15 bands nationwide," Cdr Vijay added.

Interestingly, the Southern Naval Command is home to seven of these bands, comprising around 160 musicians.

"And about 45 of them took the stage on Tuesday," said Cdr Manoj.

Joining the band

Joining the Navy band is no easy feat.

"It's everything you expect from a Navy selection process - medical exams, fitness tests, qualifications - and then you add musical talent on top of that," said Cdr Manoj.

Cdr Vijay chipped in: "Proficiency in playing at least one military band instrument is essential, along with, of course, a solid grasp of the piano-forte."

This story is from the December 11, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express Kochi.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 11, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express Kochi.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS KOCHIView All
The New Indian Express Kochi

KALEIDOSCOPIC REFLECTIONS OF BEAUTY, BANTER AND WOMANHOOD

The unassuming opening of Victoria puts us directly inside a bus that chugs along a routine route, carrying the titular Victoria (Meenakshi Jayan) and an old woman clutching a rooster, of all things.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 25, 2024
The New Indian Express Kochi

Christopher Nolan's next titled The Odyssey

ACCLAIMED director Christopher Nolan is set to adapt Homer's ancient Greek epic poem The Odyssey into a feature film.

time-read
1 min  |
December 25, 2024
The New Indian Express Kochi

My favourite books of the year

2024 was a fantastic bookish year for me. I completed two bucket list items: speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival in January and opening an antiquarian bookstore in Bengaluru in November.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 25, 2024
The New Indian Express Kochi

Deol's ton helps India seal series

HARLEEN DEOL'S maiden hundred set the foundation and India sealed the ODI series with a 115-run win over the West Indies.

time-read
1 min  |
December 25, 2024
The New Indian Express Kochi

Cranbrook to MCG, the rise and rise of teenager Konstas

ON the eve of New South Wales' first Sheffield Shield match of the season - against South Australia at Cricket Central in Sydney - Sam Konstas was sitting with his batting coach Tahmid Islam for dinner.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 25, 2024
The New Indian Express Kochi

Shooting mental sport, don't know when award snub will affect Manu: Jaspal

DOUBLE Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker finally broke her silence on her exclusion from Khel Ratna list.

time-read
1 min  |
December 25, 2024
The New Indian Express Kochi

Timely lift for Haryana shuttler

DEVIKA SIHAG is stoked at the moment. She had a valid reason to be.

time-read
1 min  |
December 25, 2024
The New Indian Express Kochi

India to play matches in Dubai, Pak tie on Feb 23

FINALLY, the International Cricket Council on Tuesday announced the much-awaited schedule of the 2025 Champions Trophy.

time-read
1 min  |
December 25, 2024
The New Indian Express Kochi

Excited with pack of pacers in SA20

WITH the third edition of the SA20 coming soon, the Ambassador of the franchise league and former South African fast bowler Allan Donald believes the new crop of pace bowlers coming from his home country are the ones to watch out for.

time-read
1 min  |
December 25, 2024
The New Indian Express Kochi

HFCL defence equipment mfg unit in Hosur

HFCL Limited, a leading telecom equipment maker, on Tuesday inaugurated a state-of-the-art defence equipment manufacturing facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.

time-read
1 min  |
December 25, 2024