Date:09/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/09/stories/2008070951140200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Folk arts to be taught in colleges

T. Saravanan

Dindigul college will host first programme

To infuse interest in dying art forms
Experts will take classes for boys and girls

MADURAI: In an initiative aimed at generating interest in folk arts among youth, the Regional Centre for Art and Culture has devised a plan to conduct exclusive camps in colleges.

R. Jagadheesan, Assistant Director of the centre, said that the training camps would develop an interest in folk arts among students thereby indirectly helping survival of the dying art forms.

The centre, which covers the districts of Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Theni and Dindigul apart from Madurai, would identify one college from each district to organise the 10-day camp. Folk art experts would be roped in to conduct the programme.

G.T. Naidu College of Arts and Science in Dindigul district had been selected to host the first camp during the last week of this month.

College identification process was under way for other districts.

At the Dindigul camp, girls would be taught ‘oyilattam,’ and boys ‘thappattam’ and ‘kaisilambu aattam.’

An ‘oyilattam’ expert from Mannadimangalam near Sholavandan would take part in the camp. A popular troupe from Vembarpatti near Dindigul would teach ‘thappattam.’ A group from Pillayarpalayam near Kancheepuram would take ‘kaisilambu aattaam’ classes.

Every year, the college and art forms taught would change. As a follow up measure, trainees would be directed to a local expert group to continue practising the art form.