At a time when a deliberate attempt is under way to drive a wedge between artists on various grounds, folk arts which uphold the message of syncretism are very relevant, Minister for Youth Welfare A.C. Moideen has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating the first National Folk Festival of Kerala being organised by the Kerala State Youth Welfare Board, in association with Bharat Bhavan and Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan.
The Minister said looking at art forms through the lens of name and caste was a dangerous phenomenon that was becoming visible in the country. This could be countered only through folk art forms. Art forms also spoke of the uplift of the marginalised, and staging them would send this message across to future generations.
Music on bamboo
Before the inaugural, Vayali presented music on bamboo instruments.
‘Naam Onnu, Nammal Onnu,’ an audio-visual programme took the popular song ‘Naam Onnalle, Nammal Onnalle’ that is part of the oral tradition in rural parts of the State and presented it in Carnatic, Hindustani and two folk music styles.
Along with it, nearly 30 ‘Thiriyuzhichil’ artistes performed their traditional dance, and folk song exponent C.J. Kuttappan presented Chatta Pattu.
Nearly 100 artistes simultaneously presented programmes for the audience at six venues at Kanakakkunnu. Dances from Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat followed.
On Saturday morning, a seminar on plurality in folk arts forms will be held at Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan. In the evening, at Kanakakkunnu, dances from Kashmir and Rajasthan will be staged.
