Dance

Konjum Thamil:

A lifestyle is song,word and dance

The 85th anniversary celebrations of the Hindu Women's Society and Konjum Thamil - the caressing language - saw the audience at the Saraswathy Hall being enthralled with an evocative performance relating the history of the Society and the traditions, culature and dress of the Tamil in song, word and dance.

The primary objective of the organisers was to portray all that has been done to fulfill the twin objectives of the Society - namely to foster Hinduism including the culture and the society and the Tamil Language over the past eighty five years.

The whole programme was choreographed beautifully by Sivanandini Duraiswamy, ably assisted by the Kalagam Committee ladies.

The Ganesha Stotaram followed by the percussion beat - the students playing on the drums, table, 'genjara' and the 'gadam' - instruments of Carnatic Music gave a wonderful start for the evening.

The Isai Sangamam - the choir of the Vidyalayam was a very special item with 24 students singing with the orchestra - an unusual programme where harmony and melody blended together, giving Carnatic Music a difference.

The programme Mann Vaasanai - the fragrance of the earth of our homes was depicted by the traditional culture, dress and heritage of the Tamils.

Young debutantes modelled the different dresses of the Tamils from childhood, wearing skirt and blouse, through to older children wearing the 'thavani' the traditional half saree and young and older women wearing the different drapes each followed by separate dances. The modelling by children and young girls was a novel prelude to the dance.

The Alarippu - a tradition of Bharata Natyam was incorporated into the Thirupugal - Eru myl eru vilaiyaadu mugam onre... which itself was an unusual combination lending colour to the dances with Lord Murugan's six encampments - aaru padai veedu.

The traditional Thillana and the singing of the Mangalam brought the programme to a wonderful end.