Coimbatore-based Udalveli hosts a-one-of-a-kind music fest

The first edition of Udalveli’s Isai Kadhambam brings folk and tribal  music traditions from across the globe to the fore
Balamurugan Nagaraj
Balamurugan Nagaraj

Known for promoting and reviving art forms like street plays and folk dances, city-based theatre group Udalveli is gearing up for an all-new venture that showcases lesser-known musical traditions. Titled Isai Kadhambam that translates to bouquet of music, the event will feature 10 different artistes who will perform sets from varying genres and showcase their prowess on instruments like darbuka and didgeridoo that are not commonly used in mainstream music. “While there are many genres of music, most people do not know about indigenous and tribal forms of performing arts. Think of all the times you may have heard the phrase Tamil folk songs and associated it with dappankuthu. But that isn’t always the case, Tamil folk music extends to naatu purapaadal or boat songs,” explains Shivendra  Prerna Vaiyapuri- a member of Udalveli.


Soul searching   

Charumathi Muralidharan
Charumathi Muralidharan


Showcasing foreign folk traditions through lullabies in Hebrew and one in the native American tongue, Coimbatore-based theatre artiste Charumathi Muralidharan will turn vocalist at this gig. “I love researching about various songs that are part of folklore traditions,” begins the 24-year-old, who has previously collaborated with Udalveli. On a local front, we learn that the musician will perform a Tamil folk song and a Baul number named Shepora Aajab.


An independent musician and composer for popular TV serial Nam Oruvar Namakku Iruvar, Balamurugan Nagaraj is set to sing three songs, consisting of two originals, Hey Kadhale and Raagathil (from the serial), and a cover of Anthony Dasan’s Kiliyama. Starting off his musical journey by composing jingles and tunes for family occasions and birthdays, the Coimbatore-based singer/songwriter who has no formal musical training, took to learning the guitar on his own and loves composing.

But, seriously folks

Sathyamoorthy N
Sathyamoorthy N

Hailing from Ayyampalayam in Karur district, Sathyamoorthy N's repertoire includes songs from the naatu purapaadal genre—Orakara orathila, Mochakota palazhagi (duet with Charumathi) and Panamarathu Mela Padhini Eraka Poren that deals with the theme of love. Admitting that a nadhaswaram would best suit the performance, the 26-year-old along with his troupe will make use of the cajon, and drums, instead. “None of us play the traditional wind instrument and have had to settle for percussion, thereby producing a different acoustic output,” says the musician who has previously collaborated with Anthakudi Illaiyaraja,  a popular naatu purapaadal singer.

Looking at extending the number of musical events that they organise, Udalveli is set to host a fundraising concert headlining TM Krishna this August. Its proceedings will go towards facilitating a national level children’s theatre festival in Coimbatore.

Clusters Media Zone. 6.30 pm onwards. July 6. Free entry.

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