Nigar Kalai Koodam in Coimbatore holds parai courses for individuals from all walks of life.
| Photograph Credit score:
PERIASAMY M
It’s a Sunday morning in Coimbatore, and drum beats fill the air. These individuals, from numerous age teams, are taking part in a musical instrument referred to as Parai.
It’s possible you’ll be stunned to know that the Parai has lengthy been related to dying rituals in Tamil Nadu. In contrast to different percussion devices just like the mridangam and tavil, the parai will not be allowed entry inside temples.
However now, a gaggle of younger artistes try to take away the stigma related to the parai. This has led to a surge in curiosity to be taught to play the parai among the many younger Tamils in India and overseas.
Studying the parai
The instrument is product of neem wooden and buffalo conceal and its weight ranges from 1 kg to 5kg .It’s performed with two sticks – a brief thick one and a protracted skinny one with the drum balanced on the elbow.
G Srinivas, together with P Chandrika and Suresh Krishnan run the Nigar Kalai Koodam, which holds parai courses in Coimbatore. Parai artistes are unfold throughout the State, a majority of them from Tanjore, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni and Ramanathapuram.
Srinivas, who hails from Tanjore, says that the instrument is usually related to individuals from socially-disadvantaged communities. The politics surrounding this instrument is what drew Srinivas to the parai.
Even at this time, parai artistes are informed to play with out footwear and shirts to indicate their place in society. Nigar’s college students, nevertheless, play in denims, T-shirts, and footwear to alter the narrative. The workforce performs at celebratory occasions throughout Tamil Nadu wearing pink and blue T-shirts. Additionally they speak in regards to the instrument’s historical past on stage to create extra consciousness.
These days, trainers too journey to show parai at Tamil associations in a number of international locations.
Learn extra right here
Reporting: Akila Kannadasan
Voiceover & Manufacturing: Abhinaya Sriram
Movies: Periasamy M
