Date:08/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020817410500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Village theatre artists want their rights recognised

Special Correspondent

Take out procession, seek free house pattas for members

DRESSED UP: Participants at a procession taken out by the Tamilnadu Giramiya Nadigargal Sangam in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI: Members of the Tamilnadu Giramiya Nadigargal Sangam (village theatre artists association) on Tuesday took out a procession in the city to highlight their demands, including insurance for artists, educational support for their children and official patronage for the art form. About 40 artists who took part in the procession were dressed in elaborate stage costumes. The procession started near the Munroe statue on Anna Salai and ended near the State Guest House at Chepauk.

The processionists also wanted indigent village theatre artists to be given free house pattas.

Addressing the processionists later, association leaders called for the creation of a structured school to foster this dying art form.

Part-time

Some of the participants said they were part time village artists and were employed in professions such as farming, driving, painting and carpentry.