Folk art festival to be held along with IFFK

The festival is scheduled to begin with the performance of the band 'RaSa'

Thiruvananthapuram: A folk art festival, comprising tribal dance and 'Chavittu Natakam,' will be held as part of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) at Tagore Theatre here from December 10-15.

The art festival is being organised as part of Vajra Keralam, the year-long celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the formation of the State, an IFFK press release said. The impressive folk songs, tribal dances, Mudiyettu, Chavittu Natakam, Tholpavakoothu and Aravana Muttu to be staged at Tagore Theatre is expected to give the audience some insight into Kerala's rich folk tradition.

The festival is scheduled to begin with the performance of the band 'ReSa'.

Singer Reshmi Satheesh of the band will explore the rich and varied streams of Indian folk tradition and bring a perfect blend of global and native music at Tagore Theatre at 7.30pm on December 10.

The band 'Vayali', with a group of talented musicians led by Vinod Nambiar, will present bamboo music with indigenous percussion instruments on December 11.

On the same day, Kuttappan and his team is expected to enthrall the audience with their nadan pattu (folk song).

Moithu Thiruvathra and his team will perform Aravana Muttu (Arabana Muttu) on December 12, while Pazhaniswami and his team will stage the dance and songs of Irular community and describe their life situations the same day.

V N Narayanakkuruppu Assan and his group will perform Mudiyettu, which consists of seven scenes, on Dec 13. Chavittu Natakam named 'Charlemagne the Great' will be staged by Ajith Kumar and his troupe of Gothuruth on December 14. The play is scripted by Chinnathampi Annavi. The folk art festival will end with Tolpavakoothu (shadow puppetry) by Ramachandra Pulavar and his team on December 15.