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A platform to showcase classical, folk art forms

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

Young talent: A contestant at a Bharatanatyam competition organised as part of a talent show in Puducherry on Sunday.

PUDUCHERRY: From classical music to percussion instruments, bharathanatyam to folk dance, enthusiastic students exhibited their talents and skills at a competition held on Sunday.

The talent show, organised by Arulvoli Samuga Vizhipunarvu Maiyam, was aimed at creating awareness and developing classical and folk art forms.

“Our centre comprises former and present students of Bharathiar Palkalaikoodam. It is a platform for students to showcase their talents,” president of the centre L. Janarthanan said.

The centre has organised similar events in the last four years starting with a competition and mobility training programme for physically challenged persons, awareness programme on environment and a talent show for inmates of an orphanage.

The participants of the competition were divided into four levels — from class I to V, VI to VIII, IX to XII and college students. The competitions included for vocal – classical and folk music, folk percussion instruments – udukai, pambai and nagara, percussion instruments – mridangam, tabla, gadam, thavil and kanchira and dance – bharathanatyam, mohini aattam and folk dance.

Over 100 participants took part in the talent show in the various categories. But many of the events did not receive even a single participant. “There was no participant for instruments such as tabla, gadam, kanchira and mugarsing. The situation was same for folk percussion instruments,” Mr. Janarthanan added.

The reason, according to him, was due to lack of awareness among the people. “These are good musical instruments and people must come forward to learn. Only then, can these art forms develop. The scenario is different in Chennai as several artists use these instruments during musical events,” he said. In Puducherry, there were only four or five persons who know to play these folk percussion instruments, he pointed out.

The prize distribution would be held during the annual day celebrations of the centre which would be held soon. Member of Legislative Assembly K.Lakshminarayanan inaugurated the competitions.

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