More than 4,000 artistes representing a microcosm of Kerala’s art and culture field will perform in about 300 programmes spread out over a week as part of Keraleeyam Cultural Festival beginning in the city on November 1.
Performances by transgender people and the differently abled, including children from the endosulfan-affected areas, have been included in the bouquet of programmes. Apart from the four main venues at Central Stadium, Nishagandhi auditorium, Tagore Theatre, and Putharikandam maidan, there will be two venues for staging plays, 12 smaller ones, and 11 for street performances.
The Vivekananda park, Keltron compound, Tagore open air auditorium, Bharat Bhavan, Women’s College auditorium, Balabhavan, Panchayat Association hall, Sooryakanthi, Museum radio park, University College ground, SMV school, and Gandhi Park will also play host to several programmes, including classical, ritual and folk arts.
Free transport
Briefing the media on the preparations for Keraleeyam, Ministers V. Sivankutty, Antony Raju and G.R. Anil said admission to all the programmes would be free. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s fleet of electric buses would be used to offer free transport for citizens to various venues. Traffic arrangements and parking facilities would be made. The Ministers said efforts were on to make Keraleeyam a tourist attraction.
The week-long event will also feature seminars, industrial expo, food fair, flower show, film festival, and illumination.
Graffiti
Mr. Sivankutty inaugurated the preparatory works for the mural exhibition, Mosaic of Expression, in connection with Keraleeyam on Manaveeyam Veedhi on Tuesday.
The graffiti by 13 women artists will be completed by the launch of the cultural festival on November 1.
Artists Anupama Alias, Mona Isa, Ashya K. Suresh, Sabitha Kadannapally, Jalaja P.S., Sara Hussain, Jaya P.S., Shilpa K., Helna Merin Joseph, Soumya V.N., Hima Hariharan, Yamini Mohan and Mariam Jasmine are taking part in the endeavour curated by Kochi-Muziris Biennale co-founder Bose Krishnamachari.
