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Art and Culture-Salem District Art and Culture Represent the Finesse of a Civilization

Art and Culture-Salem District Art and Culture Represent the Finesse of a Civilization

Art and - Art and Culture represent the finesse of a civilization. Art portrays values and acts as a medium to create an impact on our ancient tradition and culture. Art such as , , , , , Theater Art etc.,reflect the rich cultural heritage of .

Salem district of Tamil Nadu has preserved and developed various arts. As far as the rural arts are concerned, Theru [Street Play] Nadakam or Special Nadakam (Musical drama) ,Karagattam (Pot dance) , Bommalattam ( ) etc are the developed arts in the Salem area to show the pride of the soil. called as Iyal, Music called as Isai and Dance or Drama called as Nadagam are the three broad classifications of Art and Entertainment. The ancient Theru Koothu [Street Play] performed in almost all the villages , had all the three in its performance.Theru Koothu performed at social functions by people in the theme of Mahabharatham. The performance of these are rather inherited by Tradition than Innovations. It must be accepted that these performances are arranged on stages these days with small modifications to suit that environment.Nallur at taluk,, at Taluk Tharmangalam at Taluk and ,Sankari circles are home to a large number of Therukuthu artists.

Similarly, the musical drama was performed with the theme of various stories, increasing the number of verses and reducing the number of songs in the street play setting. Drama troupes at Kugai, Kitchipalyam, Sevapettai and Ammapetai in Salem District still traditionally perform plays such as Sathyavaan Savithri, Pavazhakkodi Charithram, Thirumanam, Veeran, Chitraangi Vilaasam and Nalla based on legend Sankardas swamigal penned stories. The Salem Drama Actors' Association operates in its own building with a training hall and auditorium in the Salem Kallanguthu area. It is also has the largest member of the members among the Drama Actors Association in Tamil Nadu.

The soil is also proud to develop the form of cinema for the next development of drama. Modern Theaters Ltd was an Indian film studio in Salem, started by T. R. Sundaram in 1935. Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi and Dr. MG Ramachandran, who were the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, worked in this company in Salem . Alibaba and the Forty Thieves, the first Color feature film in South starring MGR and Banumati, were produced and released. in 1956, The studio produced over more than 150 films until 1982 in Tamil, Telugu, , , , Sinhalese and even English Salem is one and only place to have developed and retained the three dimensions of drama such as street theater, Musical drama and Film in TamilNadu

KARAGATTAM : It is a dance dedicated to Goddess who is believed to bestow the earth with rains and making it a cool place to live in. This type of dance is generally classified in two categories. Aatta Karakam [just for fun and play], one of the two type is performed with a decorated pot on head doing the balancing act, which makes every one happy and joyful. The other category is called Sakthi Karakam which is performed only in temples during the festival to fulfill the religious aspect of the art. It is performed with Naiyandi Melam at the background. This dance can be performed by both men and women, single , by pairs or as groups. Act of dancing on a rolling block of wood, going up and down a ladder, threading a needle are some acrobatic movements performed by the dancers. Salem Thadagapatti have produced excellent exponent groups of this art.

Bommalattam : It is popularly called as the Puppet Show in English. Cultural messages and the scenes from the great Epics of Ramanayam, Mahabharatham are performed through the puppet show. It is enacted and spread through the performers from behind the screen, with the help of Dolls in the foreground. Iron rods are suspended from above and the dolls [only visible through a window opening from a height of 10 ft. height] are connected by black strings manipulated by the performers from behind [not visible to the audience] to achieve different movements of the dolls to fulfill a sequence and the play is enacted from the beginning to the end.

Adimelam refers to a band that Comprising of ancient musical instruments like kattai - Small , Manmelam - Covered with leather in a cylinder made of clay, Small drum called Thamuku , Big Drum called Thudumbu, is a double-headed hourglass-shaped drum, Thalam the beat counter and Oothu the pitch instrument for Kattai Kuzhal. These band available in Pallipatti in Metur Taluk and other places in the District Salem also has a number of folk performers, including Thappattam, Silambattam, Kolkal Aattam . Bambai Aattam and other folk forms.

Department of Art and Culture A separate Department, namely the “Department of Art and Culture” was formed in December 1991 by The Government of TamilNadu to develop Music, Drama, Dance, , Sculpture and Folk arts and to exhibit the traditional Cultural heritage to the younger generation.

The Department of Art and Culture is working hard for the cause of taking Tamil Music, Art and Culture to every nook and corner of the State, preserving, promoting the Traditional Arts of Tamil Nadu and encouraging the artistes involved in such arts by giving them chances to perform. The Department is providing arts training to younger generation thereby, preserving the vanishing art forms and giving training through performing arts institutions and fine arts institutions in the field of Music, Dance, Drama, Folk Arts, Painting and Sculpture. The Department is also conducting cultural functions to showcase our in other States and Countries and conferment of District Level awards and State Level awards. The Department is also providing financial assistance to the aged indigent artistes for their economic upliftment and reviving the dying art forms etc.

Regional Cultural Centre-Salem

Under the control of this Department, seven Regional Cultural Centres are functioning to co-ordinate the cultural activities in each region. Salem Regional Cultural centre established in the year 1997 headed by Assistant Directors are engaged in conducting all types of art functions, art competitions, art training in the Districts. Further, issuing Identification Cards to the artistes in Districts through the District Art Society and the District Level Awards are conferred on eminent artistes. The Regional Cultural Centre also execute the administrative work and implement the schemes of the District Art Societies, District Music Schools, Jawahar Bal Bhavans and Folk Artistes Welfare Board.

Salem Regional Cultural centre, District Music school, Jawhar Bal Bhavan and Folk artiste welfare board office are being operated in Salem Cultural Complex which was built at a cost of 1.5 crores in the extend of an area of 1 acre opposite to Thalavaipatti dairy

Classical art organisations

“Tholkappiyam” mentions the various types of music pertaining to the five landscapes (Thinai) of the . Poems of the Sangam era contain numerous mentions of the various musical instruments. “Where not accordant with the song, what use of sounding chords” says in his Thirukkural (573). Saint Manickavasagar in Thiruvasagam says that the lyric embedded with music will always get reward.

Famous musicians like Salem Desikan and Salem Jayalakshmi have lived and developed Classical music in Salem. Srimat Thiyagaraja Venkataramana Bhagavatha Swami Magotsava Sabha, Salem Sangeetha Vidvat Sabha, Salem Amateur Arts are conducting music and dance Performances . Salem , Ammapettai Markazhi Peruvizha Committee are also conducting literature related festivals

District Government Music School-Salem

The Tamil Isai stands foremost in projecting the ancient Tamil Culture. The ancient Tamil Art forms of Music and Dance are intertwined. Music and Dance give mental peace to our mind. Music educational institutions under the Art and Culture Department are contributing to educate and promote the importance of Music to the younger generation. In order to promote and propagate Tamil Isai throughout Tamil Nadu and to encourage the younger generation who are interested in Music and to popularize the music education among them, 17 District Government Music Schools were started including Salem . Three year Certificate Courses are conducted in Vocal Music, Bharathanatyam, Nathaswaram, , , Violin and Mridhangam in Salem District Government Music School.

Admission procedures

Educational Qualification - Minimum 7 th std passed (Those seeking admission in the , Thavil and Devarm courses able to read and write in Tamil .

Age limit - 13 to 25 years

Fees - Tuition fees – Nil , Special fees Rs 120/- per annum Admission fees Rs 2/- and refundable caution deposit Rs 30/- to be paid by the students along with first year fees.

Working hours

Monday to Friday - 10 am to 4 pm ( Lunch break from 1 pm to 2 Pm)

Holiday - Saturday , Sunday, Government holidays and Quarterly, Half yearly Exam holidays , Summer vacation leave in the month of May

Privileges

Students of Music Schools are provided with monthly stipend of Rs.400/- for 10 months based on attendance.Free text books are provided to students of Music Schools.Free bus pass as concessions shall be provided as per government rules in force.

Jawahar Siruvar Manram-Salem

In order to provide basic art education along with general education to children in the age group of 5 to 16 years, impart arts training to children, channelize the students in right path, bring out their latent artistic talents and give opportunities for conduct of art programmes, identifying their special talents, 40 Jawahar Siruvar Manrams are functioning through out the State including Salem district Jawahar Siruvar Manram.Training is given in 4 disciplines such as Vocal Music, Bharathanatyam, Gymnastics, Drawing and Painting, at the Salem District Siruvar Manram. District Art Societies

1.4 The District Art Societies headed by the District Collector in each District are functioning with a view to identify and help the artistes in Districts; promote, preserve the rich traditional Tamil arts, to spot artistic talent and confer awards on them at District level. From the year 2002-2003, the Government is implementing the scheme of giving awards to 5 eminent artistes in each District according to their age and eminence in arts. From the year 2017-2018, the award amount given to the artistes for District awards is given as follows:-

S. No. Age Group Name of the Award Amount Award 1 Below 18 years of age Kalai Ilamani Rs. 4,000/-

2 Between 19 – 35 years of age Kalai Valarmani Rs. 6,000/-

3 Between 36 – 50 years of age Kalai Sudarmani Rs. 10,000/-

4 Between 51 – 60 years of age Kalai Nanmani Rs. 15,000/-

5 For those above 61 years Kalai Mudumani Rs. 20,000/-

So far, 40 District Art Awards have been conferred on artistes, since the inception of the scheme in the year 2002-2003.

The Scheme of issuing Identification Cards to the artistes in Districts through the District Art Society is being implemented by this Department from the year 2002-2003. The Identification Cards are useful to the artistes for receiving financial assistance, getting priority in cultural programmes

Tamil Nadu Folk Artistes Welfare Board

The Tamil Nadu Folk Artistes Welfare Board was started with a view to provide social security and welfare schemes to the folk artistes, to preserve the traditional folk art forms identified by the Government and to provide training in folk arts to the younger generation. 1838 Salem District folk artistes have been registered as members of the Tamil Nadu Folk Artistes Welfare Board and a sum of Rs.17.35 lakh has been sanctioned to 1,222 folk artistes towards providing Assistance to the registered members for their son/daughter’s education and Marriage expenses , Assistance for purchase of spectacles, Assistance on the natural death of the registered folk artiste, Free instruments and and ornaments issuing scheme and Covid -19 relief fund Upto 31.10.2020.

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