Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

To enrich folk arts

S. Aishwarya

Tamil Isai Sangam honours two artistes

TRADITIONAL TOUCH: A `karagam' dancer performing in Tiruchi. — Photo: R. Ashok

Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI: Tiruchi witnessed another music and dance festival. But this time around, there was neither the overwhelming presence of silk and jasmine nor sublime `krithis' in Telugu.

It was out-and-out a Tamil festival with an authentic flavour of folk dance, music, instruments, all on one stage.

The `Tamil Isai Sangam' here strives to stimulate the ignored concepts and traditions of Tamil music, ostensibly, through the conduct of monthly music festivals.

This month's event offered dual treat for the audience.

For one, the yearly honorary title for folk artiste was conferred on two folk enthusiasts - A. Gopinath and Malarkodi Kandhaswamy. Secondly, the musical concert itself turned sweeter with Mr. Gopinath's passionate folk performance, retaining a distinct image while rekindling the Dravidian outlook in the audience.

The 34-member sangam organises folk concerts without jeopardising the very identity of the language on every first Sunday of Tamil month.

"Tamil folk arts and music broke new grounds in Indian music and served as pioneers in Carnatic music," says the Managing Secretary of the sangam, K. Rengarajan.

The 22-month-old sangam is brimming with hopes to enrich the performing arts of Tamil Nadu in various ways.

According to Mr. Renganathan, the sangam is charting out plans to support inception of dedicated music school for Tamil folk arts and to encourage researchers in that area.

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