Big students draw at Thanjai youth festival

THANJAVUR: Nearly 750 students from various colleges throughout the state and Puduchery exhibited their art talents at the ‘Ilangathir 2015’, a youth festival organised in connection with three-day International Youth Day celebrations here between August 26 that ended late on Friday. 

 

It was music, dance -both classical and folk-, on all the three days in the festival organised by Kalai Aayam Foundation (KAF), Thanjavur. The students exhibited their talents in instrumental music like playing the Nadaswaram, Tavil, Thappu and dances like Karakattam, Oyilattam, Mayilattam and Bharatanatyam. Solo and group dances by students enthralled the audience, while other students displayed their best in painting, photography, sculpture and even theatre. 

 

“The festival was organised to create awareness about our traditional arts among the youth and to promote young artistes,” said S. Muthukumar, event coordinator and honorary secretary of KAF. 

 

Response to the festival held every year at the South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC) here has been increasing and it “shows the interest youth have in our traditional art and culture,” M. Vijay, third year diploma student of Government Music college at Thiruvaiyaru who won the award for Nadaswaram music said.  

 

G. Anandraj, Nikhil Yaswanth, Sruthilaya and Suarmathi (all from the same college) bagged awards for their performances for tavil, veena, vocal music and folk songs respectively.

 

Students of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan college, Perambalur, Shankara Arts college, Kumbakonam, Annamalai university, Bharath college of science and management, Thanjavur, and Government Fine arts college, Kumbakonam, also won awards in various competitions.   

 

Dr. E.N. Sajith, director, SZCC, R. Gunaseharan, assistant director, State department of Art and Culture, Thanjavur Region, S. Babaji Rajah Bhonsle, senior prince and Convener, INTACH, Thanjavur chapter, Dr V. Varadarajan, Forum of Friends, SZCC and K. Ramamoorthy, former director, SZCC, were among those who participated in the festival. Thanjavur mayor Savithri Gopal presented the ‘Ilangathir 2015’ awards at the concluding function.