All for Awareness of kidney diseases

It was an idea that struck them unexpectedly, in the midst of a conversation.Vinod Hariharan, a media professional was travelling to Thiruvananthapuram in a train.His fellow passenger happened to be Dr Karunan Kannampoyilil, Senior Nephrologist at Calicut Medical College.The conversation gradually turned to kidney failures.As they talked about the huge cost required for the dialysis and transplantation of kidney, it occurred to both that there was a dire need to create an awareness among people as well as doctors about the disease.The duo made up their mind to make a video album on the subject.The video, 'Kidney Money Song' released on World Kidney Day, March 4 starts with an IT professional finding that both his kidneys have failed.The depressed youngster gets the support of the medical students who start a campaign that gradually spreads to villages and towns.Dr Karunan says, “For the past 20 years, I have been watching the grievous condition of kidney patients.The expense for the disease is so huge that even patients from the higher strata of society cannot afford it.Neither government nor other organisations can meet the expenses completely.What we tried to convey through the video is that prevention of the disease is better than cure.The unhealthy lifestyle followed by the present generation results in diseases like hypertension, diabetes and obesity which in turn results in the kidney failure.Awareness should be created among people to conduct regular checkups so that the disease can be detected in the early stages itself.” Vinod, who is also the music director of the video says, “It was our wish to do something worthwhile for society, which we tried to fulfill through this video.In order to keep its authenticity intact, we have included the doctors, students and patients of Calicut medical college in the video.It was shot with a meagre budget.We have dedicated the video to the kidney patients all around the world and are planning to donate the money that we get through each click on You Tube for the treatment of the patients.” Vinod has incidentally also worked as an assistant of music director Sandeep Chowta for five years.Faizal Razi has directed the video.The song ‘Who will provide money’, (Aaru Tharum Panam) was initially penned by Dr Karunan itself and lyricist Aswin Krishna completed it.Camera was cranked by Vimal.Shahid was the lead singer and Thejas acted as the patient.