One man, his life and vision : Part IV

Meanwhile, Mathew and Abe, came to the Lord. Abe took his degree in Bachelor of Theology and later became a Pastor of the "Full gospel Church of God" where Mathew was also ministering with Abe.During this time Viju became a celebrity in the Indian Rock music scenario. Everything was going fine till he finished three great years with Shiva. Then suddenly one day he was down with high fever while Cerebral malaria was spreading in Calcutta. The preventive medicines prescribed by a doctor left Viju half dead. By the side effect of the medicine taken, he had a hallucination where Viju almost lost his mind. In three weeks time he totally regained his mental and physical
health. But after this episode the saddest thing happened, the celebrity of Rock lost his job. Shiva refused to take him back after that frightening one month. They said, "we cannot have a lunatic singing in the band". Viju was totally rejected and broken, he parted ways with Shiva and left Calcutta in September 1994. He didn't realize God was patiently waiting for Viju to return to Him regardless of all these terrible set backs in life. When he came back home, he found no band was good enough for him to join. He had few guest appearances with bands like Firefly in Cochin and Stonecold in Banglore. With long hair, no Church was ready to accept him in Cochin and he
refused the idea of attending the traditional Malayalam fellowships because of the bitter experiences in the past.

In 1995 Viju re-invented himself as a composer for T.V. Commercials. His jingles won gold and silver awards. His most popular works in Kerala were "Johns Kuda" (Unnikkinnuoru kuda venam), Sabari Tea, VNM Jewelers, Malabar Cement, Medifresh Soap, Kaveri Facial Cream etc. He joined "Living theater" and started composing music for major English plays in Cochin, which won a lot of critical acclaim from the mainstream media for Viju's music. During this time the Hollywood actress Persis Khambatta hired him for the launch of 'Pride of India' her coffee table book about Miss India's. He composed and recorded three songs and also performed the same with nearly 60 Miss India's on stage for the launch program at Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay.