‘Responsibility of Kerala’s Youth to Protect Traditional Art Forms’: Kadakampally Surendran

MALAPPURAM:
With the growing popularity of contemporary art forms, it is the responsibility of Kerala’s youth to protect and promote the state’s many traditional art forms, according to Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran.
Inaugurating the state-level annual folklore festival and cultural fiesta ‘Utsavam 2017’ – organised by Kerala Tourism and Kerala Folklore Academy – at Kottakunnu Ground here today, the Minister said that Utsavam, which is in its ninth edition, has been able to provide a livelihood for several practitioners of traditional art forms.
“The artistes being honoured at Utsavam have spent their entire lives keeping their respective art forms alive in Kerala,” the Minister said. He added that these artistes need to be given opportunities to spread these disciplines to other parts of Kerala and other states.
Folk artistes including V.M. Kutty, Narayanaperuvannan, Eranjoli Moosa, Athiya
dam P.P. Kannaperuvannan, P.K. Panicker, Narayaniswami, P.P. Madhavan Panicker, V.P. Damodaran Panicker, Peer Mohamed, and M. Kannan were honoured at the inaugural function.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Malappuram MLA P. Ubaidulla. District Panchayat President P. Unnikrishnan, District Collector Amith Meena, Councillor Saleena Razzak, CPM District Secretary P.P. Vasudevan, C.P. Radhakrishnan, Veekshanam Mohammed, Kerala Congress (M) District President Johny Pullanthani, DTPC executive members Paloli Kunhimohammed, V.P. Anil and Adv. K. Mohandas addressed the gathering.
Kerala Tourism Director U.V. Jose welcomed the gathering while Tourism Department Joint Director (Kozhikode) M.V. Kunhiraman delivered the vote of thanks. Kerala Folklore Academy secretary Dr A.K. Nambiar presented the festival report.
Over its seven day run, Utsavam 2017 will see around 3,500 artistes present some 100 traditional art forms at various venues across the state’s 14 districts.
Performances of art forms ranging from ‘Arjuna Nritham’, ‘Adivasi Kalakal’, ‘Chavittukali’, ‘Gaddhika’, ‘Irula Nritham’, ‘Kanyarkali’, ‘Kethrattom’, ‘Kolkkali’, ‘Kooliyattom’, ‘Margam Kali’, ‘Mayilattom’, ‘Nadanpattu’, ‘Oppana’, ‘Pakkanar Kali’, ‘Paoorakkali’, ‘Portatu Nadakam’, ‘Sanghakkali’, ‘Seethangan Thullal’, ‘Theyyam’, ‘Thirayum Poothanum’, ‘Thudipattu’, ‘Velakali’, ‘Vilpattu’ to ‘Yakshaganam’ will be staged.