The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Curtains down on extravaganza

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Sunday, Jan 18, 2009
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Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Curtains down on extravaganza

Staff Reporter

Fitting finale to Chennai Sangamam on Elliots Beach

— Photos: K.V.SRINIVASAN AND M.KARUINAKARAN

Colourful finish: Performers at the finale of Chennai Sangamam at Elliots Beach on Friday. Folk artists performing at Tamil Sangamam event on Friday.

CHENNAI: Friday evening witnessed a fitting finale to the 3rd edition of Chennai Sangamam cultural festival as thousands of Chennaiites gathered on the sands of the Elliots Beach and watched a magnificent cultural show presented by select groups of folk artists.

The show got off to a start with hundreds of participating artists from Tamil Nadu and other States taking part in a parade that started from the Corporation Ground at Besant Nagar and ended at the beach. The colourful parade had artists performing Mayil attam, Kaavadi attam, Paraiyattam, Thappattam, Silambattam, Poikkal kudhirai and Karagaattam, among others.

Though the on-stage events began around 6 p.m., the crowds started pouring in as early as 3.30 p.m. As the event coincided with Kaanum Pongal, the crowd on the beach was so huge that there were not enough chairs even for the VIPs and policemen and organisers had to scout for it.

As team after team of folk artists performed on stage the crowd whistled, clapped, danced and swayed with the music. The dollu kunidha drummers from Karnataka, Bangra group from Punjab and dancers from Andhra Pradesh and the Jikkaattham group from Pollachi stole the limelight. Tinytots Oviya and Madhivadani of Thisaiyanvilai in Nagerkoil had the audience spell-bound with their folk songs. After the folk dances were presented on the stage drummers Sivamani and James Asher from England, gave an astounding performance.

Member of Parliament and Chennai Sangamam co-ordinator Kanimozhi said that though this year’s Sangamam faced a financial crunch, initially it was Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who stepped in to help with a generous donation of Rs.one crore. She said the overwhelming support of audience for the programmes only proves that Chennaiites welcome and accept all kinds of arts. Tamil Maiyam founder Father Jegath Gaspar Raj thanked all artists, coordinators, and those who extended their support to the cultural events.

Theatre person C. Karthikeyan said that the way the organisers had treated the artists had impressed him. “They even supplied mineral water to them. It was touching to see them being respected for their art.”

N.V.N. Kumar, a teacher from Peravoorani in Thanjavur, said the Sangamam also provided artists the chance to interact among their like and learn. The Chennai Sangamam offered an opportunity for photographers to capture various artists and their arts on film. Photo enthusiast L. Raphael said the event let him watch all the folk arts of Tamil Nadu while still in the city. In the morning, a poetry contest was organised for college students as part of the Tamil Sangamam one of the features of the Chennai Sangamam. Poet Abdul Rahman, who was the chief guest at the competition, suggested that a similar competition be organised for the public from the next year onwards. Students recited poems on various topics including one on Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, a poem on Hitendran, the pot and smile.

The first three entries will be awarded cash prizes of Rs. 25,000, Rs. 15,000 and Rs.10,000. Ten other entries will receive merit prizes of Rs.1,000 each. Tamil Nadu Iyal, Isai, Nadaga Mandram Member Secretary Ilayabharathi, poets Silamboli Sellappan and Muthamizh Virumbi spoke.

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