Eleven-year-old Abhilash is at ease with himself at the rehearsal, though it is the first time that he is playing a role in a ‘Kakkarishi Natakam.’ Assuming the part of a Kakkalan (tribal man), he explains today’s social issues to the audience, mixing satire, dance, and mythology in the right proportion.
Staying away from the usual cinematic dances and group songs, students of Government Upper Primary and Nursery School, Chalai, will perform a Kakarishi Natakam and traditional folk dance and songs for their upcoming school anniversary on Friday. The rehearsals were in full swing on Thursday at the school, where drama experts from Bal Bhavan, Vithura, were busy perfecting the actors on their dialogues and songs.
“The elements of this dance-drama are similar to that of Çhavitu Natakam, which at least a few are familiar with. But this art form is dying a slow death because today, only a few know its actual style. This is also an opportunity to create awareness among young children about such art forms,” Vishnu Laxmanan from the drama troupe said.
This school has a good number of children of migrant labourers and they have come up with a traditional folk dance called Lezim, representing the State of Maharashtra. Jingling the instrument called Lezim, Mayur and his friends were seen doing their rehearsals.
“The instrument was lying here at the school and we were not sure of its use until the children picked it up and started dancing using it as a prop. A little research showed that there was a dance form called Lezim,” said R.K. Venugopal, a teacher at the school.
Under the guidance of Ajith Kumar, who has volunteered to teach martial arts to the students, there will be a fire dance performance too.
P. Girija, a former music teacher at the school, has dedicated her time and effort to bring out a visualisation of folk songs.
