“MOTTAMAADINILAA CUTCHERY” and “NILAA CHORU” - 2015, ON CHITHRA POURNAMI AND BUDDHA POORNIMA DAY

To beat the summer heat and to utilize the terrace in a very traditional way, an innovative event was organized recently by The Mylapore Trio Amarnath, Surendranath, Aparna of Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation. They conducted a Very Different Special Dance and Music Concert – “MOTTAMAADI NILAA CUTCHERY” and “NILAA CHORU” (Terrace Moonlight Concert without mikes) (111th Kala Poshakam – Monthly Concert) & followed by Moonlight Dinner for the 7^th consecutive year on Sunday, 3^rd May 2015. It was a very auspicious day of Chithra Pournami and Buddha Poornima. The dance and music progammes was based on the theme Chithra Pournami and Buddha Poornima and relevant stories and significance of the day were explained by the Trio, which was a new information to many of the visitors.

At the stroke of 6pm, children of different age groups rendered songs of different genre and danced to signify the importance this special Full Moon day - a real Music to the Ears… merging with the cool breeze.

At the beginning two sisters Sanjana and Shrithi gave an enchanting performance, while one of them played the Veena the other danced to her tunes and again when one of them sang, the other played the Veena to her music.  This was followed by another group of children Sri Haripriya, Tejas, Sooraj, Swethanjali, Swathi Kiran, Roshni rendered Bhajans and Abhangs, whose music was very pulsating and vibrant.

 The Highlight of the Evening was a Very Special Dance Performance by SUGATHAN (Foundation Secretary) for a Malayalam Keerthanam depicting the story of KANNAGI to signify the importance of CHITHRA POURNAMI. It is believed that, on this day Kannagi left for the heavenly abode along with her husband Kovalan from a hillock from Chera Nadu (Kerala). Sugathan performed very gracefully, emotionally and went into trance and his Naatyam was very enticing, entrancing and fascinating, that the rasikas were spell bound and the children were mesmerized - thunderous applause rent the air. He is highly informative with sound knowledge on what ever he presents and performs. And hence adding on to the flavour, he described the significance of Chithra Pournami and unknown facts about Kannagi and her importance in Kerala even today. The audience were moved so much, that literally tears rolled from their cheeks. Sugathan also danced for the ever-popular song “Kaatrinile Varum Geetham” which brought Maalai Thendral (Evening Breeze with chillness) and pleasantness to the rasikas. He ended his soulful solo performance with the chanting of “Buddham Sharanam Gachaami” to indicate “Nirvana” or the Enlightenment of Lord Buddha on this day.

Two girls Jayanthi and Swathi with Keyboard rendered ever popular Kalyanam songs to signify the auspiciousness of Chithirai month, when the Celestial Wedding of Goddess Meenakshi with Lord Sundareswar takes place in Madurai and Lord Kallazhagar enters the Vaigai river on the Chithra Pournami, which is considered to be very sacred. Their rendering was very lively and enthralling.

 On the whole the Pournami Cutchery Kalai Kattiyathu and at the end of the programme The Mylapore Trio presented the children with godly dolls, which were apt gifts (aashirvaadham) to the children on the auspicious day.

The ambience at the Mottamaadi was tranquil and pleasant, surrounded by the vast lush green Adayar Poonga and the backwaters of near the sea. Varied type of birds perched on the different trees and bushes, were seen chi chipping at the twilight, swimming in the silent waters. It was such an amazing scenic beauty, a rare sight in the heart of Chennai. The Full Moon or the Muzhu Nilaa was a witness to this serene and divine occasion. In that calm and collective atmosphere, the audience were breezed / fanned by nature’s Pankas, sat spell bound for two hours inundated in the divine music and enchanting dance. 

The event was hosted by Foundation youth Member Kum. Shruthi Siva and her parents at her residence in Karpagam Avenue, R.A.Puram, Mandavellipakkam, Chennai. There were around 50 guests mostly consisting of Septuagenarians and Octogenarians peppered with youngsters. The senior citizens stayed the whole programme forgetting their health problems and medicines.

Sevikku Alitha Virunthukkupiragu Vayitrukkum Eeyyapattathu. At the end of the Cutchery, all were served with sumptuous “Nilaa Choru”. Literally Nilaa appeared on the dark sky and many of us had nostalgic memories…. Mothers feeding “mammu” to their children showing the Full Moon…. singing “Nilaa Nilaa Odiva”. “Chithrannam” included Puliyan Saadam, Sambar Sadam, Thengai Saadam, Urulai Kizhangu Curry, Thayir Saadam with Vattha Kuzhambu and Elumichai Oorgaai, Karuvadam, Nendram Chips, Sarkarai Pongal. 

The Host and the parents appreciated the efforts of The Trio in inculcating cultural values to children through their programs. The children opined that it was their maiden performance of such a kind and a new experience for them. They felt that it was indeed a very innovative concept and thanked the Foundation for reviving age-old practice that are becoming obsolete.  A parent commented “It was a new experience to hear different kinds of voices without mikes - whether melodious, bold, soft, sharp, shrill, etc. and the very purpose of the innovative event was attained”. The participants and their parents presented themselves in Traditional attire. The Trio, Foundation Members and others were overwhelmed with the hospitality & dinner. The TRIO felt it was really a memorable event with a new dimension altogether. It was indeed a very cool, breezy and pleasant evening - Agni Natchathiram days.