Date:02/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/02/stories/2009010257520200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

New year celebrated with verve and enthusiasm

Staff Reporter

Many hotels do not celebrate it in view of Mumbai incidents

— Photo: G. Moorthy

Be happy: New year celebrations under way at Tamukkam Grounds in Madurai.

MADURAI: The New Year revelry at the Tamukkam Grounds here rocked the Temple City as dance, songs, mimicry and other forms of variety programmes entertained the people.

Organised as a part of the 12th edition of the annual Chamber Trade Fair by the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the three-and-a-half hour show went well past the stroke of midnight, which signalled the dawn of New Year.

Starting with a couple of devotional songs, the ‘Abhinaya’ entertainment troupe went on to enthral the audience with an array of songs, dance and mimicry.

The entertainments were not all contemporary as the performers cloaked the atmosphere with a sense of nostalgia by portraying a popular song of the legendary actor and M.G. Ramachandran. The thundering applause that followed the performance showed that the former Chief Minister continues to reside in the hearts of the public.

Even though almost all the performances were amazing, the one show that stole the limelight would be the portrayal of stars, erstwhile and present.

The performers depicted M.G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi, Rajini, Kamal Hasan, Vijayakanth, T. Rajendar and Surya.

The portrayal of Surya was simply awesome. A physically challenged artiste of the troupe portrayed his role in the movie ‘Perazhagan.’

Different mood in hotels

A good mix of popular Hindi and English pop numbers combined with light effects lit up the stages in the few hotels that had New Year celebrations.

A majority of hotels chose not to celebrate in the backdrop of Mumbai terror attacks.

Fireworks lit up the city sky at several places in the city. Midnight mass and service were held in various churches in the city.