This margazhi, residents of the Urur-Olcott Kuppam will play host to a festival that hopes to transform Carnatic music.
As part of the Urur-Olcott Margazhi Vizha, musicians who usually perform at air-conditioned sabhas will perform by the sea for people who haven’t yet been able to listen to the stalwarts of the industry. An initiative by Carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna, the festival wants to take Carnatic music to people from all walks of life.
“Carnatic music has become very elitist,” says Divya Narayanan of the Vettiver Koottamaippu, an anti-corporate collective that is organising the initiative. “The festival will expose different communities to Carnatic music,” she adds. It will also take folk music to communities who’ve grown on Carnatic music. It’s all about “connecting different communities,” she says.
The festival, that’s crowd-funded, will be held by a temple inside the fisher folk’s settlements. “Artists will perform facing the temple and the audience will be seated facing the sea,” explains Divya.
To prepare the kuppam for the big day, a beach clean-up is being carried out on December 20, in which volunteers, including school students, are set to participate.
The Urur-Olcott Margazhi Vizha will be on at Ellaiamman Kovil, Besant Nagar on December 29 and 30. The festival will begin with villupaattu by children from the kuppam on both days. P. Unnikrishnan is set to perform at 6.30 p.m. on December 29, followed by performances by Kattaikkuttu Young Professionals Company. The next day, there is an instrumental concert by R. Kumaresh (violin), Jayanthi Kumaresh (veena), Sankaranarayanan (mridangam), and Arun Kumar (morsing and rhythm pads). This will be followed by a dance drama by Kalakshetra. Entry is free and is open to all. For details, call 98845 21072. To donate, visit www.orangestreet.in/projects/urur-olcott-kuppam-margazhi-festival.
