Kerala - Thrissur   

Visual interpretation of panchari melam

— Photo: K. K. Najeeb

MELODY ON CANVAS: Artist K.N. Damodaran attempts a visual interpretation of panchari melam at a programme in Thrissur on Monday.

Thrissur: A painting session was on Monday held at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Hall to the accompaniment of panchari melam.

K. N. Damodaran, former head of the department of the applied arts at the College of Fine Arts, Thrissur, painted on a canvas while a record of panchari melam was played in the background.

Mr. Damodaran said he was attempting a visual interpretation of the musical structure of panchari melam.

The canvas contained geometric shapes and visual patterns interpreting various stages of panchari melam, each based on beats totalling 96, 48, 24, 12 and six respectively.

Panchari melam, comprising chenda, ilathalam, kombu and kuzhal, is an essential part of temple festivals.

Percussion maestro Peruvanam Kuttan Marar inaugurated the programme. He explained the structure and rules of the melam. Art critic Vijaya Kumar Menon spoke.

His paintings have been displayed at several State, regional and national exhibitions. He is currently acting president of the Kerala Chitrakala Parishad.

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