Dance :
What was once known as Bharathakalai and now known as
Bharatha Naatyam is a unique form of Dance. Once considered
taboo for women is now learned widely and being frequently
performed on the stage as well as at temple festivals. The
national TV also is lending a hand to popularise this
ancient and classic form of dancing.
 Music:
If one were to talk about music one can site enough
examples from the Tamil epic Silappathikaram itself Such
finest nuances of music like 'pann' and 'mathirai' are
elaborately discussed in this. If one were to add any
further one can dare say that even the 'raagaas' of Karnatic
music also originated from Tamil music. Almost all the 'sabhas',
such as Tamil Isai Sangam, Music Academy, Naaradha Gaana
Sabha, to name a few, hold music festival every year. The
great stalwarts like Bharatha Ratna M.S.Subbulaxmi, Dr.Bala
Murali Krishna, Chembai, Chemmangudi and etc. are considered
as finest exponent of Karnatic form of music while Ilayaraja
who created a niche for himself in Film music contributed in
no lesser a manner to popularise the music of rural people.
The position it enjoys now on the world scenario, one can
say, is due to him. The Karnatic Music festival held in
Tiruvarur, Thanjavur district is the finest example of the
esteemed level at which this is held by the people of
Tamilnadu. It is no surprise for a land which idolises and
prays Lord Siva in the form of music. Drama:
It is true that the Tamil Drama movement began by the
venerable Shankaradas Swamigal lost some of its glamour with
the advent of Cinema. But when compared with the vigour with
which the drama movement faced the turmoil situation
prevailed then, the achievement of Cinema pales into
insignificance.
Besides, Tamil Drama has the distinction
having produced five illustrious Chief Ministers in Arignar
Anna, Kalaignar Karunanidhi, M.G.R., Tmt.V.N.Jaanaki, Selvi
Jeyalalithaa. Tamil Dramas proved to be effective ammunition
in the country’s fight for freedom Doyens like Viswanathadas,
Bhaskaradas whipped up patriotism among the masses in South
India using drama as an effective tool. MGR and Shivaji who
later became legends in cine field began their histrionic
career under the tutelage of Shankaradas Swamigal in the
Boys’ drama company run by him. In Musical Drama the couple
KB Sundarambal and SG Kittappa, with their soul rendering
performances became the ‘darlings’ of the people. KB
Sundarambal even courted arrest for having sung patriotic
songs in her dramas.
Under the disguise of mythological
dramas the artists spread message of freedom. TKS brothers
staged social dramas and these dramas brought about social
awareness and the freedom struggle was the core theme of
many a dramas. Nawab Rajamanikkam also occupies a pride of
place in this respect. Though the literary works of such
geniuses like T.Jaanakiraman and Alagirisaamy found a place
in Sahasranamam’s Seva Stage, the real effort to give
prominence to such work was made by Prof. Ramanujam of
Thanjai Tamil University.
In order to give new life and lease to Tamil drama he
established drama ‘workshops’ (Koothu-pattarai) His
artistically modern approach did pull the Tamil drama from
the rut it was in. He was followed by Naa.Muthuswamy,
Pariksha Gnani, Veli Rangarajan and they did give a new
direction and dimension for Tamil Drama.
Under the
circumstances the street dramas created by Badal Sarkar
assumed the role of a social movement and it created such an
impact that it had its influence in Tamilnadu as well.
Youths inclined towards left ideologies used this as an
effective instrument to spread their messages among the
masses. In that respect Thiru Piralayan through his Chennai
Kalai-kulu and Tmt. Mangai through her Chennai Pal-kalai-Kulu
are making valuable contribution for the renaissance of
Tamil drama. Through experiment young artiste like
Muruga-boopathy are show-casing ancient glories to the
modern era.
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