Thrissur Pooram welcomes its first-ever women chenda artistes

While Thrissur Pooram is a much-loved festival, it has long carried the image of being a sea of men, both among performers and spectators. However, slowly and steadily, women are also making inroads into the fest. This year, for the first time in history, two women are part of the percussion ensemble of pooram as chenda artistes. Archana Anoop and Aswathy Jithin from Poonkunnam are the right-hand artists of the Kanimangalam ensemble this year, and they are quite excited about the opportunity. In conversation with Onmanorama, they share their passion, preparation and more for the pooram.

Homemakers-turned-artistes
35-year-old Aswathy and 42-year-old Archana have similar stories about pursuing chenda. While Aswathy’s husband Jithin Kallat is professional chenda percussionist – cum – instructor, she has been an ardent fan of the instrument from childhood, being a Thrissur native. “However, I never got an opportunity to try it. A month before our son’s ‘arangettam’ (first performance), I asked my husband whether I too could learn chenda, and he encouraged me. This was seven years ago,” recalls Aswathy. Similarly, Archana, whose son is a student at Jithin’s class, expressed her interest in chenda to Jithin after accompanying her son for the classes. “I wasn’t sure whether I can pick it up now, but sir assured I can. I have been training for the past 1.5 years,” says Archana.

Being the first
The duo might have started their training late in life, but they say nothing posed a hurdle, thanks to their passion. Archana says, “Yes, a chenda is around 14 kg and holding it can hurt your shoulders initially. However, when we focus on the rhythm, we forget it all and the instrument becomes part of us.” Despite the percussion ensembles and poorams being a big crowd of men, they haven’t felt unsafe or uncomfortable too, ever. “All that I have experienced is encouragement. Yes, there might be problem-makers, but I guess they are few in number,” says Aswathy.

More women on the way
Many young girls are joining chenda classes now, and that indicates a change, says Aswathy and Archana. “The day after Thrissur Pooram, we have a performance in Triprayar, and the group consists of just women,” Archana says. Last year, pooram had a female flute player as well. Aswathy and Archana also participated in the ‘Vishu Panchari’ performance at Vadakkunnathan Temple this year.