In a rare feat, a couple, Kalamandalam Hareesh and his wife, Dr Nandini Hareesh will be giving a public performance in Thayambaka, a subtle blend of percussion instruments of Chenda and Elathalam. The rhythmic beats that start off on a slow note pick up the pace gradually, hitting a crescendo to leave the audience spell bound. This is the first time in Kerala that a couple will be performing in the professional circuit of thayampaka. The venue of this rare feat will be the Madurai Meenakshi temple in Poonjar and this musical feast will be held on the auspicious day of Mahanavami on October 23.
The two hour performance aptly named as ‘Dhampathi Thayambaka’ will indeed be a cultural fest with a difference. It is interesting to note that it was their love for thayampaka that brought the couple together. Kalamandalam Hareesh, is a chenda instructor at the Kerala Kalamandalam deemed university whereas Nandini, an ayurvedic doctor by profession has been learning thayampaka for the past 14 years.
It is heartening to note that such innovative feats by young people will go a long way in keeping alive the traditional art forms of Kerala and promoting these cultural treasures among the youth. The fast paced modern life and the blind imitation of Western culture have all resulted in the rampant depreciation of the cultural assets of Kerala and innovative feats like these alone can save these art forms for posterity.
