The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A rousing and colourful start

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 21, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A rousing and colourful start

Staff Reporter

`Sangae Muzhangu' sets the tone for cultural event

CELEBRATING CULTURE: Artists performing at the ``Chennai Sangamam,'' a music, dance and drama festival, in the city on Tuesday. — Photo: S. R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI: It was a rousing start all the way, right from the artistically set stage to the spirited performances.

`Sangae Muzhangu', with its smooth blend of music, dance and poetry, gave a slice of Tamil arts, culture and ethos and set the tone for the start of the six-day cultural `Chennai Sangamam' at the IIT's open air theatre on Tuesday.

A host of cultural groups helped to string together the evolution of arts and literature — from the Sangam era to the days of Bharathiyar. Art director Thotta Tharani's `maaligai' (bungalow) with its ornate pillars and motifs provided a stunning backdrop. Adding to this was the multi-layered background score by Paul Jacob with guitars, veenas and a variety of drums in full harmony.

While Narendra and Mahalakshmi of Avignya danced to Bharathiyar verses, Geoffrey's troupe came up with graceful ballet movements. Narthaki Natarajan presented a bharatanatyam programme while Yogeswaran, Gunasekaran and Kovai Kamala sang.

Spirited performances by folk artists from Thanjavur, Nagercoil and Madurai set the stage alive.

The frenzied `periyamelam' (performance by various drummers) had a pure rhythm to move the audience. And of course, there was actor Prakash Raj with his feisty rendition of verses from Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's `Purananooru.'

`Sangae Muzhangu', conceptualised by poet Kanimozhi and directed by Vasanth, will be performed once more at IIT on Wednesday evening.

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