Kerala

150 artistes to be honoured on November 1

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies, Thripunithura, is organising a percussion festival, 'Melotsavam,' on November 1, to mark the State formation day.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, programme general convener P. Vasudevan said the festival would begin with a `Kombu Pattu' in which 51 artistes would participate, to be held at Layam Ground at 3 p.m. It would be followed by `Pandi Melam' in which over 150 artistes would participate, a public meeting felicitating the artistes and major set `Panchavadyam' with more than 75 artistes. The meeting would be inaugurated by Sebastian Paul, MP. Kerala Kalamandalam vice-chairman A.S.N. Nambisan would deliver the keynote address.

Masters of percussion including Thevan Theradippurath, Velappaya Chandra Marar, Thripunitura Pappu Asan, Kadavalloor Thami, Unni Dayanandan, Thripunithura Thankappa Panicker, Pilakkattil Thami and Kottappadi Devan would be felicitated at the function.

The 'Kombu Pattu' would be led by Varavur Manikandan. Karukutty Sasi would lead the 'Pandi Melam' and Kalamandalam Chandran would lead the 'Panchavadyam.'

The festival aimed at promoting the rich tradition of percussion and questioning the conservative tendencies prevailing in the field. Honouring of artistes who belonged to marginalised sections of society was also an objective, the organisers said.

(The Hindu, Friday, October 27, 2006)