Redefining the Margam
This year youngsters are re-writing what we know Margazhi to be.
Update: 2015-12-18 01:20 GMT
It’s Margazhi — that time of the year in the city when connoisseurs from across the world come here to appreciate music and dance. This season, we speak to youngsters who are performing in the city, who gave up lucrative conventional jobs to opt for a career the fine arts — much like the mythical Phoenix that rises from the ashes to a new beginnning.
Passion over profession:
For artistes like the California-based singer Sid Sriram (who sang Adiye in Mani Ratnam’s Kadal), performing this Margazhi is something special. As much as he loves the traditional form of music, experimenting with the art and bringing in a contemporary approach to it is something that he has taken up over the last few years. “I have six concerts scheduled in the city this year. Every time I perform during December, it has been a different kind of experience. I think Chennaiites are the best because the city has a receptive audience. Also, my whole family is involved in the arts. I have a couple of upcoming recitals with my sister Pallavi. I am planning to sing and do nattuvangam for her Bharatanatyam performances — we are focusing on Lord Muruga’s Thiuppugazh,” says Sriram, a disciple of the legendary PS Narayanaswamy. Sriram quickly adds he wants to balance R&B and Carnatic music, apart from playback singing, songwriting, and instrumental music. “I’m really glad I’m able to expose myself to two completely different worlds of music and love them both equally, “ he adds.
Having grown up in the US, vocalist Sandeep Narayan, disciple of musician Sanjay Subrahmanyan, had to make the big decision of moving to India after college. “It has never been easy. I decided to take music quite seriously and shifted my base to Chennai for the past nine years. I realised music was my calling, and I am one of those who’s strongly bound by an infectious enthusiasm and passion. Thanks to my family and guru. They were quite confident that I could do it, and think about music as a full-time career. My roots are Carnatic music. I think everything stems from that,” he says.
Appliques and Aalaps:
Looking at the trendy side of Margazhi, we find that the younger audience members and artistes use this season as a time to flaunt the latest and best fashion trends — be it experimenting with anarkalis, dhoti pants, ethnic palazzos, or more. A fad that has cropped up among Bharatanatyam dancers is designer outfits, where Swarovski crystals and pearls are added onto Kanjeevarams or Mysore silks.
Having been in the industry for over 10 years, dance costume tailor Sivakumar says that these days Margazhi has become a ramp for youngsters to show off latest fashion, both on and off the stage. “My father DC Aiyyelu was a revolutionary when it came to dance costumes — he was the one who brought about layered costumes, tissue material pallus and fans stitched sideways. But now, trends have changed drastically,” he says. Customers ask for a variety of designs ranging from stone-work and sequins on saris, Benarasi embroidery, and even crochet.
For Rehane Yavar Dhala, a sari is something that can be worn many different ways. In her latest collection, she experimented with ankle-length saris teamed with jackets and crop blouses. “I tried my hand at making saris that were above ankle length because they are so much more comfortable than the usual ones. Teamed with a smart waist-length jacket and a sheer or lace inskirt, it is the perfect outfit to redefine elegance,” says the designer. Take note girls, maybe you could sport an ankle-length sari when you attend the next kutcheri!
“I think ethnic Indian is the sexiest style a woman can wear. While I’ve seen several people experimenting with their saris, one trend that especially caught my eye is pairing a cropped jacket with a chiffon sari,” says Shruthi Vijayakumar. On the Margazhi being the ideal venue for showcasing traditional outfits, she says, “People definitely pay attention to style when coming to the concert. For example, Sudha Raghunathan is known for having the best collection of Kanjeevaram saris, while Bombay Jayashree on the other hand has a more subtle style which stands out too.” On her own sense of style — “I’m a Bharatanatyam dancer so I have a special love for saris. However, also being an MC for events, I am equally comfortable with western wear. So I think a crop top paired with palazzos or an ethnic skirt would look really pretty. I even saw a well-known singer attend a concert wearing dhoti pants and a sleeveless tank top!”
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