Youngsters from Kerala will introduce Mumbai's music lovers to a percussion-driven orchestra at the annual Keli Festival
Youngsters from Kerala will introduce Mumbai's music lovers to a percussion-driven orchestra at the annual Keli Festival
"Anand Marar is just 12 years old but his improvisation skills on the chenda are so advanced that no youngster can carry his rhythm forward in a Thayambaka performance," says K Ramachandran, director of the Keli Festival. 
Excitedly, he goes on to tell us how Anand started learning the chenda, a cylindrical percussion instrument, at the age of four and gave his first professional performance when he was just 7 years old. "He is a child prodigy for sure," says Ramachandran.
Keli is an organisation that has been working to propagate traditional classical art forms of the country for the past 19 years. This year, the focus is towards the art of rhythm music in Kerala. But instead of organising a festival that would features maestros, Keli decided to encourage youngsters.
"These children have picked up the tradition from their fathers and uncles, individually. They had never performed until we visited their village and suggested they start practising for our festival," explains Ramachandran. The average age of the group members is 17-18 years but most of them have earned distinction at various state level competitions, back in Kerala.
Getting the artists together was no easy task. One of the groups led by Vinu Marar comprises of 60 performers; other groups too have members in double digits. The sheer numbers would've given any other organiser the jitters, but not Keli. "It is thrilling to present to the music enthusiasts of the city a rhythmic experience that they have never encountered before," concludes Ramachandran.
Keli Festival Schedule
January 10 at 7.45 pm
Thayambaka by Master Anand Marar and group. Thayambaka is an intricate and aesthetically formulated rhythm pattern. In this, the chief artist starts with a very slow rhythm and takes the symphony up to a very fast tempo.
January 11 at 7.45 p m
Panchari Melam by Master Vinu Marar and group. The art of Melam ensembles of rhythm instruments is the manifestation of artistic emanations of a group of performance. Over 60 talented prodigies will present Panchari Melam, which is a powerful rhythmic exploration based on 12 basic beats.
January 12 at 7.45 p m
Panchavadhyam by Kadavallur Panchavadhya Sangham. Panchavadhyam is an ensemble of five different types of instruments. The leading rhythmic instrument is Thimila. The other instruments are maddalam, edakka, elathalam and kombu. The conch is blown at the beginning of this performance.
At Horinman Circle, opposite Asiatic Library, Fort.
Call 9820835737 Free entry passes are available at Prithvi Theatre, Rhythm House and Giri Stores, Matunga
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