Two of Indian music’s living legends are all set to join hands for a one-of-its-kind collaboration. Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and chenda doyen Padmashri Peruvanam Kuttan Marar are coming together in Thrissur this week.
The duo is collaborating as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Keli festival. Keli, a cultural organisation based in Mumbai, has been working towards the preservation, development and propagation of the traditional art forms of Kerala.
The Silver Jubilee cultural programme titled Trikaalam will be inaugurated by Zakir Hussain. “When we requested Zakir Hussain to inaugurate this event, it was he who suggested an event where the tabla addresses the chenda, since Keli focuses on a study of Kerala’s traditions,” says festival director K. Ramachandran. Keli will also present Ustad Zakir Hussain with its ‘Veerashrangala’ Award.
As part of the celebrations, Keli has also undertaken a comprehensive study and documentation of Peruvanam village, its history and cultural movements which make it a cradle of diverse artistic streams — both traditional and contemporary.
The event will begin at 6 pm at C.N.N. Boy’s High School Auditorium on Sunday with a short invocatory performance on the mizhavu by V.K.K. Hariharan, followed by a Pandi Melam by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar and team.
