Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi to host National Percussion Festival in Thrissur from July 11
The event will bring together diverse percussion traditions from across the country, offering a grand celebration of rhythm, sound, and tradition under one roof.
Curated by Keli Ramachandran, the festival aims at spotlighting rhythm as a powerful cultural, artistic, and political expression—not just performance but dialogue, identity, and resistance. The festival is held as a tribute to Ustad Zakir Hussain, whose impact on the world of rhythm continues to inspire.
Zakir Hussain memorial
The inaugural ceremony will be held at KT Muhammed Theatre at 5.30 p.m. on July 11. Revenue Minister K. Rajan will inaugurate the event. Poet and lyricist B.K. Harinarayanan will deliver a memorial speech on Ustad Zakir Hussain. Akademi chairman and percussion maestro Mattannur Sankarankutty will preside.
'This is a historic milestone for the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi—the first-ever percussion festival in its 67-year history. When I took over as chairman, I made a promise to the percussion community, and through this festival, I am fulfilling that commitment,' said Mr. Sankarankutty.
The three-day festival will feature native percussion performances such as Chenda Melam, Panchavadyam, Thayambaka, Mizhavu, Maddalam, Kombu Pattu, Thappattam and Kartal, along with percussion performances of other States. There will be insightful lecture demonstrations and short film screenings.
Penkaalangal
Women percussionists, historically underrepresented in many percussion traditions, will perform at the event. The session, Penkaalangal on July 12, will feature all-women ensembles and talks led by stalwarts like Amritavarshini (Thavil), Mukta Raste (Tabla), and Nandini Varma (Thayambaka), among others. Sukanya Ramgopal, known for breaking gender barriers in Ghatam, will perform at 7.45 p.m. on on July 12.
The closing event, Chairman's Symphony, led by Mr. Sankarankutty, will be held at 7.35 p.m. on on July 13.
'The festival is a dream project of the akademi. Conceived as a platform carrying a deeply political message, it brings together percussion artistes from diverse sections of society. By placing women and transgender artistes at the heart of the festival, we are affirming its core message,' said Karivellur Murali, akademi secretary.
Pre-festival events include seminars in collaboration with the Kerala Kalamandalam and School of Drama exploring the rhythmic heritage in Kathakali and cinema.
With sessions across three venues—Black Box Theatre, Actor Murali Theatre, and K.T. Muhammed Theatre—the festival offers free entry. A delegate registration at ₹100 via the akademi's official website is also available. Only the first 200 registrants will receive delegate kits and meal coupons.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
13 hours ago
- The Hindu
Literature festivals are windows to democracy, says Satchidanandan
The International Literature Festival of Kerala hosted by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi came to a close on Thursday with a vibrant ceremony that blended reflection, honour, and cultural pride. Akademi president Satchidanandan inaugurated the valedictory session, while secretary C.P. Abubacker lowered the festival flag. In a historic moment, the akademi library was renamed 'Kerala Sahitya Akademi Lalithambika Antharjanam Memorial Library,' paying tribute to the pioneering writer and social reformer. 'It is an honour to dedicate the akademi's library to Lalithambika Antharjanam, a name that represents courage, compassion, and progressive thought,' Mr. Satchidanandan said. 'Literature festivals are windows opening into democracy at a time when it feels increasingly closed. They are spaces for free conversations between diverse ideas, and Kerala's effort to step in rhythm with the world's progress,' he said. The session featured a keynote address by quiz master and writer G.S. Pradeep and a special address by Praseetha Chalakudy. Poets from Nepal, including Bhuvan Thapaliya and Amar Akash, attended as special guests along with members of Lalithambika Antharjanam's family, Rajendran Namboothiri and Tanuja Bhattathiri. The meeting was chaired by akademi vice-president Ashokan Charuvil. The festival, which began on August 17, brought together writers, poets, and thinkers from across the globe, fostering open dialogue and cultural exchange. Earlier, while addressing a session titled 'Indian literature – singular or plural,' panellists said language unity and literary harmony were under threat. The present political climate in India posed a serious threat to linguistic unity and literary harmony, said speakers at a session under the chairmanship of writer and poet Chandrakant Patil. Panelists observed that Indian literature was deeply interconnected, yet regional languages today were struggling to thrive under the growing dominance of Hindi and English. 'Regional languages are finding it difficult to sustain themselves in the face of Hindi and English hegemony,' said writer Sachin Ketkar. Highlighting India's unique plurality, literary critic Prafull Shiledar noted: 'A single story takes countless forms in this land. For instance, the Ramayana alone has over 900 versions, which is a testament to the complex polyphony of Indian literature.' Adding to the discussion, scholar Manu Chakravarti said literary diversity flourished through cultural and linguistic exchanges. 'We are living in a time when literature is expanding and evolving more than ever before,' he said. The session stressed that while India's multilingual traditions have historically enriched its literary fabric, the present tilt towards privileging a few languages risks narrowing this diversity and undermining centuries of cultural integration. Writer N.S. Madhavan said the country was passing through an undeclared emergency. In a conversation with V. Musafar Ahmad, he warned that the denial of voting rights, as witnessed in Bihar, could be repeated anywhere in the country. 'The danger of disenfranchisement is real and cannot be ignored,' he cautioned. Turning to literature, Mr. Madhavan observed that while world literature was becoming increasingly symbolic and layered in meaning, Malayalam novels were growing more visual in their narrative style. He also noted a worrying trend in translations. 'Most translations today are from Malayalam to English. But what we need urgently are translations between Indian languages,' he said, stressing that such exchanges are vital for enriching literary traditions across the country.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- The Hindu
Kerala showcases a secular cultural alternative to the world, says Minister K. Rajan
The curtains rose on the second edition of the International Literary Festival of Kerala (ILFK) on Sunday, with writer Vaishakan hoisting the festival flag on the Kerala Sahitya Akademi premises. Revenue Minister K. Rajan formally inaugurated the festival, declaring it as Kerala's cultural response to divisive narratives across the world. He also named the akademi auditorium as M.T. Auditorium in honour of writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair. 'In times when lies are spread and falsehoods are used to undermine literature and culture, Kerala presents to the world a secular alternative through this festival,' Mr. Rajan said in his address. This is a moment to recognise how Kerala's rich cultural heritage is being deliberately undermined. There are even dangerous attempts to destroy the State's cultural progress by spreading distorted and deceitful narratives through cinema, the Minister added. 'The most enriching moment of this festival is the dedication of the akademi auditorium to MT, the beloved writer of every generation and every era,' the Minister said. Festival book Higher Education Minister R. Bindu, while releasing the festival book and bulletin, spoke about Kerala's unmatched library movement. 'With thousands of public libraries, academic libraries, and reading rooms, Kerala has the highest library density in the country. The rest of India looks at this movement with admiration and curiosity,' she said. The event was presided over by MLA P. Balachandran, with district panchayat president V.S. Prince as the chief guest. Akademi president K. Satchidanandan outlined the festival's vision, while cultural leaders, artists, and writers from abroad also took part. Running until August 21, the festival will feature nearly 70 sessions, including debates, lectures, children's literature events, theatre, and cultural performances across three stages.
The Hindu
14-08-2025
- The Hindu
Pinarayi to inaugurate second edition of International Literature Festival on August 17
The second edition of the International Literature Festival of Kerala (ILFK), hosted by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, will begin on Sunday (August 17, 2025) on the akademi premises. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the event at 10 a.m., with Culture Minister Saji Cherian presiding. During the ceremony, the akademi auditorium will be officially renamed 'Kerala Sahitya Akademi M.T. Auditorium' in honour of writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair. Akademi president K. Satchidanandan will present the festival's thematic overview. Ministers K. Rajan, R. Bindu, MLA P. Balachandran, Thrissur Corporation Mayor M.K. Varghese, district panchayat president V.S. Prince, and District Collector Arjun Pandian will convey felicitations. The event will be preceded by a ceremonial flag-hoisting by writer Vaishakhan. Distinguished personalities from the socio-cultural sphere will attend. The five-day literary fiesta will feature discussions, lectures, author interactions, children's literary sessions, cultural performances, and plays across three venues, with over 70 sessions planned. International panel The international panel includes Palestinian poet-journalist Asma Azaizeh, Tibetan poet-activist Tenzin Tsundue, and Nepali poets Bhuwan Thapaliya and Amar Akash. Highlights of the evenings include an M.S. Baburaj musical tribute by Jayaraj Warrier, the play Poratt by Thrissur Panchami Theatres, dance performances by Thiruvananthapuram Guru Gopinath Natanagramam, and a traditional Marathukali performance by Rajeevan Panikkar Koyonkara and team. A special literary photography exhibition based on M.T.'s novels Manju and Naalukettu, curated by Manoj D. Vaikom at Thrissur Fine Arts College, will also be on display. Akademi library The festival will conclude on August 21 with Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal delivering the valedictory address, chaired by Mr. Pandian. The akademi library will be named 'Lalithambika Antharjanam Memorial Library' during the closing ceremony, followed by a keynote address by quiz master and orator G.S. Pradeep. Delegate registration will close on Saturday. Participants can register in person at the ILFK office in the akademi or online via The fee is ₹500 for the public and ₹250 for students and persons with disabilities.
