Vanchipattu songs in lilting tunes sung by Neerkkunnam brothers from Ambalappuzha created ripples at the week-long Onam celebrations opened at Hill Palace on Wednesday.
Ambalappuzha Gopakumar, a cultural leader, inaugurated the function. He said that ‘vanchipattu’ is the pride of Alappuzha.
The 13 artists, including the team leader Anil Kumar, stood in the form of a snake boat and sang the songs that recreated the excitement and thrill of the snake boat races of Kuttanad.
The beats of the songs had the audience joining in and singing the chorus - ‘O thithithara thithi thei…’, they went with the typical gestures of the oarsman. The artists sang several ‘vanchipattu’ and vechupattu numbers that showcased the spirit of Kuttanad during the one-hour long programme which ended with an Onapattu. The audience got to experience the feel of Onam celebrations of yore with many bygone traditions coming alive.
Ambalappuzha Gopakumar said that “Vanchipattu has enriched Malayalam literature with immortal lines of Kumaranasan, Kunchan Nambiar, Ramapurathu Warrier and several other greats of Malayalam literature. The art form which upholds the true culture of the state must be encouraged and the artists, honoured,” he said.
He also said that the ‘vanchipattu’ celebrates the harmony of the people of Kuttanad. “The art form is a symbol of harmony. The strength and harmony encourage the snake boat teams to row with greater speed in pulsating regattas,” he said.
Centre for Heritage Studies (CHS) academic affairs Dean N M Namboothiri and Hill Palace Registrar K R Sona were also present. Namboothiri said that the celebrations at Hill Palace focuses on encouraging the traditional art forms of the state. Meanwhile, as part of Athagosham 2013, a bharatnatyam performance of Paris Lakshmi and a dance performances by students RLV College of Music and Fine Arts were held at Layam ground on Wednesday.
The cultural programmes being held as part of the festival in Tripunithura will be on till Friday.