Fusion rules at finale of music fete

‘Taala Mahotsavam,' a three-day music festival, concluded in the city on Saturday with a fusion performance involving more than 15 music styles and instruments.

The final day of the fete began at the Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan with a session on ‘Presence of Women in Music Forms in Kerala' by K.P. Ranjini.

The afternoon session focussed on art forms of tribal people. Vinod Nambiar, folklore expert and co-ordinator of Vayil, a group engaged in preserving the art forms, said that unlike other classical dance forms, scientific reasoning of tribal art forms was impossible.

Close to nature

Recollecting his visits to various tribal communities, he said that tribal people maintained a close relationship with nature, which got reflected in their art forms and prayers. “Tribal communities have started to explore music instruments of today. Now, instruments such as Chenda are extensively used by them,” he added.

The session was followed by a folk dance, ‘Irular nritham,' by the tribal community from Attapady. Members of the community danced to centuries-old songs. Accompanied by various instruments used by the tribal community, the songs convey the relationship of the people with nature.

“This is a part of what we are, this is our identity. We will pass these traditions to the next generation, just as we were taught by our forefathers,” said Murugan, a group member.

Maradan, 51, a self-taught expert in Kuzhal, a tribal music instrument similar to a flute, said that he would teach the younger members of the group to make the instrument so that they could carry on the tradition.

Senior artistes of various art forms were also honoured at the final day of the festival. A ‘panjarimelam' by Kalamandalam Udhayan Namboodiri and team; and ‘thayambaka' by Mulayankavu Ajith and group were also held.