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Music Season
MY FESTIVAL - CHITRA VISWESWARAN
It can never become routine
I had just joined and was cast as the heroine…!
I started attending these festivals when I came to Madras from Calcutta where we lived. My first was the 1970 season. I had come down to do my scholarship under Vazhuvur Ramaiah Pillai. There were not so many venues then.
The Music Academy, Tamizh Isai Sangam and The Indian Fine Arts were the main sabhas.
Slowly other venues mushroomed. But the programmes were very exclusive, and people looked forward to them.
I was 19, and I would go with my guru to watch the performances.
I had joined, I think, around July or August of 1970, and in December the Tamizh Isai Sangam had a ‘Pann Araichi’ session about Tamil music. It still takes place every December.
The committee was composed of very learned people.
That year, Vazhavur Ramaiah Pillai had researched the Tirumalai Andavar Kuravanji. He was in his 50s then, at his peak. And he cast me as the heroine Kamavalli.
It came as such a pleasant surprise, because I had just joined. So I did participate in that very first festival season! I remember Sunil Kothari and a whole gang of them had come to attend. Vadyar brought a real cow onto the stage for the temple procession.
We had no idea about this, so everyone ran off when it came. But I, as Kamavalli had to stand and pine. I remember my mother saying she was worried that there would be cow dung on stage, and then how would we dance?
Vadyar helped me select the costume, jewellery, etc. I had a lot of exposure to different designs and hairstyles, and he was very open to suggestions. So I have some very fond memories of that first and other seasons.
Now people prefer to attend programmes in their own areas, because commuting has become a very big issue. But I don’t think the festival can ever become routine, at least to an artist who loves the art. As for pace, I remember in my youth I did nine performances in 10 days and enjoyed every one.
Of late, I take on less. I think it’s for the artist to understand, and most artists are sensible enough to understand.
I don’t think for any artist the magic and the excitement of this season will ever vanish.
(As told to Anjana Rajan)
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Music Season
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