Winning the world with touching song

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Baijuraj (centre) shot the video; (inset) U.A. Muneer

A few years ago, an act of humaneness from a few mentally-challenged children went viral on social media. In a national level inter-school running race, as the leading runner slipped and fell, the fellow participants ran back to lend him a hand.

The students running together to the finishing line, holding hands, moved many hearts. This incident inspired U.A. Muneer, secretary of Loveshore Institute for Mentally Challenged at Kozhikode, to make a music album with the many children, under his care. Thus was born, The World Winners. With around 500 mentally-challenged children as part of it, the album is one of a kind. The song titled Daivame garnered appreciation from many well-known personalities. Sung by Vijay Yesudas, Madhu Balakrishnan and Sudheer Kumar, the lyrics of the 4.5 minutes song were penned by Baijuraj, who also directed the video. Sudarshan set the tune for the song. “It was no easy task, but the children were quite cooperative and obedient, and the process was an experience in itself,” says director Baijuraj.
The shooting happened for almost a week at different locations. “I wanted to highlight the cause of the mentally challenged and also do my bit to garner a little extra attention towards them. As I mentioned these causes, all those who worked behind the album were supportive and worked sans remuneration,” says Muneer, who runs five institutions for the mentally challenged.