Thiruvananthapuram: Peruvanam Kuttan Marar’s chenda will join forces with Manoj George’s electric violin, M.S. Lavanya’s saxophone, Prakash Ulliyeri’s keyboard and numerous other instruments he is not familiar with.
The show ‘Devadundubhi’ conceived by Manoj will be the 2011 Padmashri recipient’s first-ever fusion experience. But Marar would beg to differ. “Melam is Kerala’s own symphony fusion, and I have always been part of it. However, I have focussed on one style, and have never taken up invitations for other fusion performances,” he told reporters here on Tuesday.
Manoj had directed a fusion performance some months ago. “But this time, there will be different styles of music and dance,” said the Grammy award winning artist. Playback singers Sithara and Sachin Warrier will be part of the show. The dance, which will be a fusion of Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattom and Salsa, has been composed by Sajna Najam, who was awarded best choreographer of 2015.
However, one can expect a lot of onstage improvisations, according to show director Manoj K. Varghese. Manoj George’s violin will have the power to change the course of the performance.
The press could witness a sample of the original on Tuesday. The artists seemed to be holding a dialogue with their instruments. When Ulliyeri would play the keyboard, Marar would reply with his chenda.
Over 60 years’ old, but curious as a child, Marar was seen trying his hand at a modern drum set. “They may be young; however, they are bigger artists than me,” he said.
The show is part of ‘Suvarna Keralathinte Kayyoppu’, an event organised by the Oommen Chandy government to showcase its achievements over the last five years. A documentary by filmmaker T.K. Rajeev Kumar will also be screened. The event will begin at Tagore Theatre at 5 p.m on Wednesday.
