One of the leading cultural organisations of the western suburb of Mumbai, Vasai Fine Arts, has organised a unique festival of classical music and dance for five days commencing on Wednesday 3rd December at Prarthana Mandapam, opposite Sabirigiri Ayyapa Temple in Vasai. This festival marks the final phase of the 10th anniversary celebrations of Vasai Fine Arts, which will be formally inaugurated by veteran journalist Alaknanda on Wednesday evening.
Film stars expected to attend the festival are Seema G Nair, Sijo Varghese, Rachana Narayanan Kutty and Padmashree Mattanur Sankarankutty, Chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and acclaimed percussionist. The festival makes a divine commencement with the chanting of Ayyapa Sahasranamam by Guru Nandini Madhavan and her disciples, followed with dance performances by accomplished mentors from Mumbai with their disciples, Dr Lata Surendra, Smita Manoj Nair, Sathi Vijaykumar and Pavitra Bhat. The highlight of the festival will be the Thullal trio with the combination of Ottam Thullal, Parayan Thullal and Sitaangan Thullal, led by Kalamandalam Suresh Kaliyam
The second day features group dance performances by Kalamandalam Rajitha Nair, Nisha Gilbert, Dr Chitra Visweswaran, Saigeetha Mohan and Lakshmi Sibi Sathyan. The evening concludes with an exciting Kaalri Payattu display by Vadakara Choorakoodi Moosa and his team.
The third day will feature an enthralling violin recital by talented youngster Ganga Sasidharan as a mark of tribute to the veteran violin maestro Bala Bhaskar. The fourth day will commence with a Kathakali workshop by Kalamandalam Biju who is in the faculty with Bhaskar Arts Academy in Singapore, followed with a Kuchipudi production Monsoon Anu Raga by acclaimed actress and dancer Rachana Narayanan Kutty and her talented team.
The festival concludes on Sunday with a traditional Panchavadyam recital led by Kariyannu Narayanan Namboodiri and Kottakkal Ravi, followed with a grand Pandi Melam by Mela Pramanam of the Thrissur Puram Thuiryvambadi team- Cherusseri Kuttan Marar and Chovvalur Mohana Warrier and grand finale will be kathakali presentation Duryodhana Vadham by the prestigious Kottakkal PSV Natya Sangam. The Lifetime Achievment award will be given to Kariyannur Narayanan Namboothiri, Kotakkal Ravi and Cherusseri Kuttan. Karuna Puraskar will be delivered to Dr Abdul Nazar, chairman Akbar group of companies and the young Enterpreneur award will be given to Rajeev Rajan,CEO of Sequence Communication
MBY Girish Nair, Secretary of Vasai Fine Arts says “The festival entry is free for everyone as festivals of such a magnitude hardly happens, hence we want more people to come forward to attend and also we solicit corporate support without which nothing is possible”.
