‘Ovvoru Pookalume’ singer dies after contracting Covid

M J C COMAGAN 1973-2021

‘Ovvoru Pookalume’ singer dies after contracting Covid

Aditi.R@timesgroup.com

Chennai:07.05.2021

Kalaimamani awardee M J C Comagan died of Covid-19 on Thursday. The visually impaired singer was 48 years old. “His death was unexpected. We are unable to come to terms with it,” said V Anitha, his wife.

Comagan was best known as the voice behind the hit song ‘Ovvoru Pookalume’ in the 2003 Tamil film ‘Autograph’. His blind orchestra, Comaganin Raaga Priya, made its way into the 2008 Guinness Book of World Record after the group sang 682 songs for 50 straight hours. Comagan called it one of his greatest accomplishments.

According to Anitha, Comagan began developing Covid symptoms on April 17. He had high fever lasting more than 10 days. On April 24, his family took him to a hospital for the RT-PCR test, but he got a negative result. “When the doctors took a CT scan, they found that his lungs were infected and suspected Covid,” said Anitha.

On Wednesday morning, Anitha said Comagan began complaining of severe shortness of breath. They rushed him to a hospital and got him tested again and this time the test came back positive. He was immediately admitted. “When we checked his oxygen levels after a while, it was around 91-92. He was fine until late evening, when his oxygen levels dropped drastically to 40. They put him on ventilator support. At1.15am, he passed away,” she said.

Comagan was due for his second dose of the Covid vaccine this week. “He got the first dose on April 3 and in a few days, he fell ill. He never had any breathing difficulties before. It was all so sudden,” said his grieving wife.

Comagan’s journey began in 1991 with he and nine friends began an orchestra, comprising of visually impaired artists. For nearly two years, the group didn’t get opportunities to perform, but kept meeting every week, practising tirelessly.

Slowly, they began performing at music festivals, sabhas and marriage functions till ‘Autograph’ gave them their big break. Over the years, the group grew to 25 members and has given 3,500 musical performances across nine countries.

In February, Comagan was awarded the Kalaimamani award for excellence in the field of art. During an interview after the award ceremony, Comagan told TOI that it was a dream to start a music school. “I want to see an inclusive society, and also show people that anybody can achieve what they want,” he said. Comagan is survived by his wife and two children.