Chennai | Urur Olcott Kuppam Vizha 2024 sees a celebration of rhythms, stories, and tradition

Experience the vibrant Ururu Olcott Kuppam Vizha festival with music, dance, and cultural performances by the beach.

The aroma of the salty sea breeze, milky tea and freshly-fried bajjis, welcomed guests who greeted each other like old friends at the Ururu Olcott Kuppam Vizha. Overheard as the slow building crowd settled, were words of nostalgia. One could hear the beats of Chandrasekara Sharma’s ghatam in preparation for singer TM Krishna’s performance as the waves crashed rhythmically in the distance. 

Back after six years, this counter-culture festival by Besant Nagar beach, saw sonorous sing-alongs to film songs by Motta Maadi Music and spirited performances of parai aatam, villu paatu, amba music and TM Krishna’s Carnatic music on February 23. The venue for this crowd-funded festival, was the Ellaiamman temple where a make-shift stage was set up against the backdrop of the gopuram in construction.

R Sundaramurthy, one of the lead organisers, arrived on stage, now beautifully set up, to announced the start of the festival.

The evening began with parai attam by students of Avvai Home. Parai attam is traditionally performed only by men. This all-girl crew effortlessly wielded the instrument, made of cow hide, with elan. They left the stage, with cheers from friends and family, having literally drummed up the excitement for the acts to follow.

The students of Olcott school came next, settling down with their bow-shaped instrument, the villu for a spirited performance. Traditionally, villu paatu is used to entertain and educate people in rural communities, passing down cultural and moral values through oral storytelling. At the vizha, the students recited stories and learnings from the Thirukural.

Soon, the stage was set for the most awaited performance of the evening. TM Krishna and his troupe — HN Bhaskar (violin), TRS Manikandan (mridangam), Sunil Kumar (kanjira) and Chandrasekara Sharma (ghatam) — took the stage. Residents of the area crowded balconies and rooftops around the temple to catch a glimpse of performers.