Sea, its mysticism, the life that it sustains, and its influence on literature and cinema will be the theme of a three-day event to begin on the Neeleswaram-Azhithala beach on Friday.
The first known such event in the geographical history of the place, the event, titled Kadalezhuthukal , is being organised by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi. Fisherfolk, fish vendors, sea captains, environmentalists, researchers and writes will participate in the literary meet.
Malayalam literature has greatly derived from sea, fisherfolk, and coastal life, a reason why the akademi is prompted to reach out to the coastal belt of the State to explore the lives and experiences of fishermen, their inseparable intimacy with sea and the evolution of ethos. All these aspects have sparked great literary works as well as films in Malayalam.
“Reaching out to the marginalised and minorities is the main objective of organising the three-day programme. We want to rope in people from all sectors into the literary world. Coastal life and their traditional knowledge have important contributions to our culture,” said akademi president Vaisakhan.
The programmes
The programmes on the first day comprise ‘Meen Peruma,’ an exhibition of names of fish varieties, which will be displayed at the venue. Eminent writer Shihabuddheen Poithumkadavu will the deliver keynote address. ‘Pattu Kadavu,’ a music programme, by Umeshan Thaikkadappuram and ‘Marakkaappile Theyyangal,’ a drama by Neeleswaram Pattena Janasakthi, will follow.
The second day programmes will begin with ‘Kadal pattu’ (Songs of Ocean) by fish workers of Azhithala. Seminars on ‘Sea and Culture’ and ‘Biology of Sea’ will be held.
Fish workers, vendors and sea captains will deliberate their experiences at the programme ‘Nattukadal.’
Fisher women will display their culinary skills at the programme ‘Meen Ruchi.’ Films Old Man sand Sea and The Red Turtle’ will be screened in the evening. Karl Marx , a chavittu natakam by the Gothuruthu Sabeena Rafi Folklore Centre, will follow.
Recital of poems with sea as the theme and seminars on topics related to sea and sea life will be highlights of Sunday’s programmes.
The akademi will also conduct similar programmes under the same title Kadalezhuthukal at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram district and Chavakkad in Thrissur district.
