The shady boulevard maketh the roof, tiled pavement the base, nature sets the stage. The usual whizzing and honking of vehicles on Manaveeyam Veedhi in busy hours give way to songs and dance, acting or painting, and debates or deliberations. The audience break into claps, whistles and cheers.
None interferes to prevent or police the one-of- a-kind street space for performance, a credit the culturally abundant capital city can proudly boast of. The 15-year old cultural corridor, adorned with graffiti-spangled walls, is undisputedly the loudest of all voices in the clamour for freedom on streets in the state.
A child skating on the road as part of Theruvulsavam
On the previous Sunday, Kochi proved a tarmac means beyond the wear and tear, craters and dug up holes. Kochiites woke up to an unconventional morning. Traffic was a no-no along one side of Shanmugham Road from High Court Junction to Taj Gateway Hotel. Public proved it again how, given a chance, they can make the most of an opportunity so meticulously. Gone are the days people who go urban hunting on streets were forced upon the labels of non-conformists.
The very first ‘Theruvulsavam’ organised by the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) along the lines of Raahgiri, an event popular in the cities of Gurgaon, Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru was that eventful. Raahgiri is to create awareness on the utilisation of public transport and to curtail over dependence on motorised transportation and choose walking or cycling instead.
A band performance during the 15th anniversary celebrations of Mavaveeyam Veedhi
Reaching Kozhikode, the Njattuvela Samskarika Pravarthaka Sangham’s ‘Kiss Street’ event at the break of the New Year dawn in 2016, an attempt to rewrite the codes of freedom was more of a bedlam. The organisers still pin blame on the absence of space for the kind of activities in the city of Kozhikode.
Shylaja P. Ambu, theatre person and president of Manaveeyam Theruvorakkoottam, the cultural collective traces the 15-year transition in the cultural scenario of the city. “Affordability factor is a deterrent for most people to access a rented auditorium or a hall to conduct events. Getting publicity for the events make things tougher. Manaveeyam Veedhi does not have any hard and fast rules. Every week, at least five to six organisations express their wish to perform here. From our part, we provide them the support like the light and sound arrangements,” she says.
Musical programme of Theruvulsavam
Over the years, the cultural corridor was witness to a long winding list of events — be it the transgenders’ Queer pride rally, World Theatre Day celebration, photo exhibition, film screening or cycle rally. In between, the move to open a food-on-wheels night eatery system by the Gender Park in the street was fought hammer and tongs by the cultural activists to retain their ‘own’ space. In the year-long 15th anniversary celebrations, Manaveeyam Veedhi has elaborate plans to spice up the activities.
In Kochi, the idea of opening the streets to indulge in activities had been a Utopian ideal. When malls were turning out to be a much-loved hangout spot, a new chapter had opened in the metropolis. “A health-conscious generation is the need of the hour. There is neither fresh air nor availability of open space in the malls. Without expenditure, it’s hard to spend time there. When street events are organised people move out into public spaces. It showed how they can travel to a destination without their private vehicles as there were common transport buses to take them to a place,” says Anand Varun, an IT engineer behind the initiative of Kochi Sky High, one of the partners of ‘Theruvulsavam.’
In the absence of a dedicated space, regular common spaces are a breather for the culturati in Kozhikode. “We were questioned many times when we performed in the streets. Take the state on the whole— open spaces are becoming paid areas. This is hampering freedom of expression. We need venues to converse with the common man, to open up and talk politics,” says Swapnesh Babu of Njattuvela Samskarika Pravarthaka Sangham.
