Top Artistes Honoured as Folk Fest ‘Utsavam 2020’ Commences

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Showcasing Kerala’s rich and diverse folk art traditions, the seven-day Utsavam 2020 got off to a colorful start with Minister for Co-operation, Tourism and Devaswoms Kadakampally Surendran honouring eminent aritstes at the state-level inauguration of the cultural festival at Madavoorpara near here today .

Over 5000 artistes, representing a spectrum of folk and ethnic traditions that flourished in different parts of the state, are performing in the 12th edition of the festival, organized by Kerala Tourism Jointly with Kerala Folklore Academy and District Tourism Promotion Councils.

Eminent actor Nedumudi Venu was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony, which was presided over by Corporation Councilor Sindhu Sasi. Tourism Secretary Rani George and Tourism Director Bala Kiran were present.

A spectacular fusion of sight and sound to be staged at 28 venues across the state, the festival brings alive an array of ethnic and rural art forms, enthralling art lovers, connoisseurs and tourists. The festival provides a platform to state’s traditional folk arts, many of which are on the verge of being pushed to oblivion.

Mannur Chandran (Porattu Kali), Parappil Karumban (Kakkarassi Natakam), Ambujakshi (Pulluvanpattu), Sister. Immanuel Prakash (Margam Kali), Thambi Payyappalli (ChavittuNatakam), Nazar Kappad (Mappilakala), Aruvi Arumughan (Paliyanritham), Rajamma Mullankuzhi (Parunthu kali), and Sreedevi Srikumar (Nadan Pattu) were honoured at the function.

The artists being honored and the performers for the festival were selected by a two-member panel comprising Folklore Academy Chairman C J Kuttappan and Bharat Bhavan member secretary Pramod Payyannur. Councillor Pradeep Kumar, Block Panchayat President Shaniba Beegum, Panchayat President Venugopalan Nair, ADM Vinod, BS Indran, D Ramesan and Sidharthan were also present at the inaugural function.

The inaugural was followed by the performance of ‘Mathrukam-Penmayude paithrukam”, conceived by Pramod Payyanur.