Revisit traditional arts and culture: Chennai Sangamam 2011

                                                     
Chennai Sangamam ,also known as the Tamil Folk art festival where chennaites  recount our indian tradition and culture once again. This is an annual event organized by Tamil maiyam, a non-profit trust in Chennai that promotes art and culture in association with the Department of Tourism and Culture of the Government of Tamil Nadu. It is happening on the dates 12^th January till 17^th January. The programme will see over 2500 performers consisting of folk artists, dancers, singers and other performers from different parts of the state and will take their art to the streets. The various performance items are held in 11 locations in Chennai crossing over 56 types of programmes as given below. 

Sangamam 2011 is celebrated in conjunction with the Pongal festival.During the five days, as mentioned above lots of traditional arts and cultural programmes are lined up just for Chennai people to enjoy and it is an event aimed to create awareness among the Urban people about our Tamil arts and culture.The event  being the  5^th edition of Chennai  Sangamam was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.Karunanithi. Do you know he has donated close to 1 crore to Chennai Sangamam?

                                          Promotional posters for Chennai Sangamam 2011
                                      
An inaugural dance drama, Prasanna ramaswamy’s Vanam Vasapadum stole the limelight with its strong message on honour killings.This drama was meant to condemn casteism. The dance drama alone, has close to 200 artists and technicians attracting the audience attention. The drama opened with two transgender artists while another has orthopaedic disability performed acrobatic dance moves in another scene.    It is the longest and biggest festival in India.

Some pictures that show the various programmes:

                                            Karakkattam

                                          Kuralin Kural-Thematic Classical Dance

                                                      Bharthanatium

 Programmes 2011:

Programme Name	Performed by
Mangala Isai	Students of Music College
Carnatic Vocal	Sri Harish N
Chennai Silambaattam, Sakkaraththaazhvaar Oyilaattam, Bommai Vedam, Karadi Vedam	Gopu Kathambam. Aarumugam Parai,
“Kuralin Kural” – Thematic Classical Dance	Smt. Sheela Unnikrishnan’s Sri Devi Nrithyalaya
“Fusion in a totally new avatar”	Zinc Fusion Band
SareGaa – “Desiya Kavigalin Kavigal”	Children Choir
Villuppattu	Velavan Sangeetha
Folk dance	Oorambu Natya Palli
“Thamizhukku Amudhenru Per” – Carnatic Vocal	Dr.R Ganesh
Classical Fusion dance	A vigna
Flute recital	Isai Mazhalai Master. Visweshwar
Kokkilikkaattai, Maadu Vedam	Paavaadairaayan Pambaiyaattam
“Dasavatharam” – Dance Drama	Sri. Zakir Hussain & Group
Poikkaal Kuthirai, Puli Vedam	T hangavel Chendai
”Heart Beats” – Music Ensemble	Ghatam Sri. Karthick
Devotional Choir Music	Kunnakudi School of Music
Story Telling Session	“Kadhai Sollum Sangam”
Nadhaswaram	Innjikudi Sri.E.M. Subramaniam
Cine Music	“Aattam Paattam Kondattam” – Sri. Kanagaraj & Group
Vocal Music	Physically Challenged persons
“Vibrations” – Rhythmic Concert	“Vibrations” – Rhythmic Concert
“Mahabharatham” – Theru Koothu – Part I	K annappa Thambiran
World Fusion Music	Oxygen
Islamic Hymns	Sri. Irayanban Kuthos
“Isai Vanavil” – Rhythm concert	Umayalpuram . K.Sivaraman
“Isai Payanam”	S mt. Charulatha Mani
Logu Innisai Geetham	Lite Music Troupe
Andhra Pradesh Pot Dance	Aakruti

Do you know? The idea to have it in the open parks, beaches and streets was an inspiration from the Bangaluru Habba celebrations .The events that mark the festival include traditional and folk music shows folk dances, martial arts, classical music and dance performances, street plays, drama / theater etc. Apart from these, food  component got added in the second edition of Chennai Sangamam in 2008 where food outlets catering traditional Tamil cuisine also became part of the celebrations.

The idea of organising a festival during Pongal showcasing the culture of Tamil Nadu was  conceived by Kanimozhi, M Karunanithi’s daughter, (Member of Parliament, Tamil Nadu).

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Venues:

§                                 Anna Park – Royapuram

§                                 Tower Park- Anna Nagar

§                                 Thiru Vi Ka Park – Shenoy Nagar

§                                 Natesan Park – T- Nagar

§                                 Sivan Park – K.K.Nagar

§                                 Periyar Vilayatu Thidal – Valsaravakkam

§                                 Lady Wellington – Marina

§                                 Elliots Beach- Besant Nagar

§                                 Nageswara Rao Park – Mylapore

§                                 Murasoli Maran flyover Park- Perambur

§                                 Wimco Nagar – Tiruvottiyu

http://chennai-roundup.sulekha.com/blog/post/2009/01/chennai-sangamam-12th-monday.htm

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