Urur-Olcott Vizha aims to bring down barriers

Carnatic performances in the fishing hamlets to Parai-attam and Gaana at a predominantly classical music venue; from music performances in the MTC bus routes to a living museum with arts and crafts installations – the Urur-Olcott Kuppam Vizha stays true to its intention of ‘de-classing’ the arts. Speaking about this year’s edition, Ramya Rajaraman, a volunteer for the festival, said the key highlights included a percussion workshop by the youngsters of the Avvai Home School and a photo exhibition by children of Urur-Olcott kuppam. 

“We have been conducting workshops since October last year – on ghatam and kanjira for the girls at the Avvai Home, on art at the Olcott School and a photography workshop for children of Urur Kuppam. The result, a percussion performance (on February 10) and a photo exhibition (on February 4) – will be part of the festival,” she said. 

The pre-events include Gaana concert by Gaana Viji (of Dangamaari fame); Silambattam (Power Pandian Aasan Silambam team) on January 21, Devotional music by Jogappas (transgender musicians); Parai-attam by Friends Kalai Kuzhu on January 22, Concert by T M Krishna at the Besant Nagar beach on January 29, Music performances on an MTC bus route on February 2. 

The Vizha will take place on February 10 and 11, featuring a blend of Carnatic music performances, theatre, Nadaswaram procession by the Urur Olcott Fisher troupe, Kuchipudi and Tamil rock. Environmentalist Nityanand Jayaraman, who is also associated with the Vizha, said the festival extended from the hamlets of Urur-Olcott kuppam to the concert halls of Mylapore. 

“Last year, we got a feedback that while we were bringing the classical arts to the people here, we weren’t taking our folk arts to the other concert spaces. This year, we have folk arts such as Silambam and Parai-attam at the Ragasudha Hall, which is a popular venue for Carnatic concerts,” he said. The crowd-funded Vizha will also include a Living Museum with arts and crafts installations. “This will give a feel of the history, culture and art forms of the Urur-Olcott village, using multimedia installations, demonstrations, exhibits, sketches and photographs,” concluded Ramya.

Discrimination in cleaning kuppams

Ahead of the Vizha, residents of the Urur-Olcott kuppam decided to tackle the ever-increasing problem of garbage in their vicinity. The residents alleged discrimination by Ramky Enviro Engineers, contracted by the Greater Chennai Corporation, in clearing the garbage in these fishing villages as compared to the rest of Besant Nagar. A report released by The Other Media revealed that of the 33 garbage hotspots identified in the study area, 20 were in Urur Olcott Kuppam and Thiruvalluvar Nagar alone and only one door-to-door collector was allocated for every 300 households. 

“With more than 900 families, Urur-Olcott Kuppam and Thirvalluvar Nagar should be allocated three people. But, only two are allocated, out of which only one shows up to collect the garbage once in a few days,” said R Sundaramoorthy, Secretary of the Urur-Olcott Kuppam Joint Committee. There is only one street sweeper for three villages, he said. After the complaint, the contractors cleared the garbage bins. “We hope that the garbage in our villages will be cleared with the same dedication as the other parts of Besant Nagar,” he added.