As the ruckus over Mullaperiyar dam is reaching unprecedented heights, Swaranjali, a city-based cultural organization is chipping in to make to make a musical intervention. Expressing its solidarity with the Mullaperiyar agitation the Swaranjali, in association with the Thiruvananthapuram Tamil Sangam, organised a ‘Sneha Sangeetha Sangmam’ in the city on Sunday. The organization is leaving no stone unturned in its effort to turn the tide and dispatched by post a mass petition addressed to Jayalaitha seeking an amicable settlement of the issue after the event.
The music aficionados who gathered before the Secretariat on Sunday morning sang the verses of legendary poets Rabindranath Tagore, Vallathol Naraya Menon, Kumaran Asan, and Subramania Bharati.
“They are poets who were part of the socio-political movements in the country and their poems reflect the spirit of nationalism. That is why, we chose to express our solidarity with the cause of easing the tension between two states of India with the verses of these poets,” said lyricist, musician and film director T N Sreekumaran Thampi, Secretary, Swaranjali.
The meeting was attended by a number of personalities from all walks of life. Soorya Krishnamoorthy, Tamil Sangam Secretary Vanamalai, Palode Ravi MLA, Perumbuzha Gopalaksrihnan, and many others joined the organization in its endeavour. “We are happy that we could garner the support of the Tamilian population residing in the city. Vocalists B Arundhathi and Parvathypuram Padmanabha Iyer, who set the poems to music, are at the forefront of the ‘Sangeetha Sangamam’, among other Tamil and Malayali civilians and music students”, said Sreekumaran Thampy.
Amabalappuzha Vijayan, Kabeer and other musicians led the music programme, in which many upcoming singers like Ragaratnam reality show winner Nandini, also took part.
The musical event was followed up by the posting of the letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha. Copies of the letter, drafted in Malayalam, and evoking the metaphor of water to signify the vitality of Kerala-Tamil Nadu brotherhood, were circulated among the gathering.
“The Tamil version of the letter is being sent to the Chief Minister and it bears the signature of as many as 101 musicians including vocalists K Omanakutty and Ramesh Narayan,” said Thampy.
He added that the programme will be followed up by a concert at the Udupi International Hotel in Nagercoil on the same evening at 6.30 pm.
The event will be organized as part of the ongoing Soorya Festival and will feature the same poems sung in the capital city.