Urur Olcott Kuppam Vizha is back with another unconventional performance in an unconventional space on Independence Day. Students of Chathur Lakshana Academy of Fine Arts, Mylapore, will present a Bharatanatyam performance at the Chennai Central Railway Station. Regulars at last year’s Vizha might remember the MTC Bus music events and the children’s choir concert that happened at the Station.
Singer TM Krishna, one of the volunteers of the movement, says, “We were looking at bringing the so-called classical arts to the public space. So, the first time we did it was an experiment to see if it is possible. We felt it really went well. The response was beautiful. So, we thought, why not put classical art forms in the public place again?
And, we thought a visual art form will be great, and so we went with dance. We are going to work with the Railways every alternate month. And, there will also be the bus rides. We hope to feature various kinds of art forms and push the envelope.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Radhika Vairavelavan, founder-director of Chathur Lakshana troupe, says the audience can expect a traditional Bharatanatyam performance. “But, it will not be like a regular sabha performance. It will include more popular compositions that people outside the classical dance scene can also relate to. As the Central is a public place, we are looking at a performance that can reach out to everyone.”
All the performances will be in Tamil and will include Laya Kavithais (poetry with an inbuilt rhythm) and popular ones such as ‘Maadu Meikum Kanne’ . The highlight will be the performance to Krishna’s ‘Chennai Poromboke Paadal’.
While Urur Olcott Kuppam Vizha was a hit, it also raised eyebrows. Many people ask what the big deal is, but it is easy to say that from a position of privilege, says Krishna. “All art forms are stuck in their little clubs. From my experience, whether it was singing on the bus or beach, many people said, ‘I have never heard Carnatic music before, but now I would like to go and see what it is all about’. They might not be a rasika tomorrow, but it is about removing these psychological fears from people’s minds, enabling them to access different art forms. It means you are also accessing different people.”
ADVERTISEMENT
He recalls a drunk man dancing to his song towards the end of the MTC bus event in the last edition of the Vizha.
“That man would have never entered The Music Academy in his life. He would have never thought this music would have anything to do in his life. But, in that moment, he danced to Subramania Bharati. These instances happen, when you remove multiple layerings around art forms that restrict people’s entry. Once it is removed, everybody is touched in their own way.”
The performance will be held at Chennai Central Railway Station on August 15, at 6 pm.