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Young World
Haven of culture
RENJINI STALIN
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Whether you wish to go professional or learn performing arts for pleasure, you are sure to enjoy yourself once you step in here.
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Fulfiling moments...
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
Cinderella has turned into a beautiful princess. She is now in the ballroom dancing with the handsome prince. Suddenly the clock strikes... .
The setting is Kalagramam, a school of Arts at Pattom. Children are rehearsing the all-time favourite fairy tale, Cinderella, for their annual day, ignoring the heavy rain outside. Perfect time to go back to the fairy tales.
Kalagramam, the arts village is a haven for art lovers. Anyone who is above five years old, and enjoys those flights of fantasy through the performing arts or fine arts is welcome. A wide range of subjects from piano to veena to painting and tabla to rock guitar are being taught here.
"Till five, let the child do whatever he wants. Let him draw on the walls, practise drumming on the table and do whatever he likes. Let him be free. When he is around five, you can identify his interest. Then give him the appropriate encouragement," says Fr. Xavier Kunnumpuram, the director of the institute.
"Creativity cannot be suppressed," he avers. "Even if you act against it, at some point the buried talent will surface," he adds. Sharon, a student of St. Mary's School, Pattom, is good on the keyboard. She loves music and wants to be a music teacher. Six-year-old Sack, who is here to learn drawing and is also an avid reader, announced that he would talk to me only after he finishes reading the book he was glued to.
The rock guitar is a popular instrument for the learners here. Keyboard, piano and vocal music are in demand too. Father sees to it that children are taught only what they are interested in and are not forced by their parents. Here, keyboard is first taught using a software before they get a hands on experience. The principle is to learn through the sense of touch, hearing and vision.
The institute does not encourage competitions which tend to "kill art", says Father. The aim is to give children an opportunity to stage programmes thereby improving their self-confidence as well as developing their creativity through innovative programmes.
Through ARTFEST, held every two months, children are made to perform on stage what they studied. Interestingly, this is an occasion for parents to share the stage if they are enthusiasts too. Into its sixth year of functioning, Kalagramam was started by Father Mathew Mailady, an exponent in western classical music.
Relying on the "Never Advertise" advice from Father Abel of Kalabhawan fame, the centre has let its students be the ambassadors. From a very humble beginning with five students, it now has 250 regular students.
Father Xavier dreams of the day when he can offer more traditional artforms like Margamkali, Oppana, and over the years establish an educational institution for the Arts.
Kalagramam is for those who take art seriously.
The response to the question, "Why Cinderella?" elicited the response, "Children's plays should be enjoyed by them. They should not be stuffed with big ideas they cannot digest. It is such an enchanting story," says Ajayan Paripally who helps the children give shape to the play. True. Who doesn't love Cinderella? We also realise the Kalagramam experience is all about "enchanting" the child.
The music wafts in the air. The dance was on when the clock struck.
Yes. It was time for me to leave.
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