Singer Arivu acting at The Hindu’s Music and Food Festival at Island Grounds in Chennai on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: Akhila Easwaran
Some fifty metres away from the brilliant stage and swelling crowd, a bunch of 4 buddies have been trying garba, popsicles in hand. Swaying to the rhythm, they moved in a circle, as Carnatic-progressive rock band Agam’s frontrunner Harish Sivaramakrishnan sang the favored ‘Boat Song’ within the background. The buddies discovered their very own area away from the gang, within the expansive Island Grounds conveniently near the fast-selling meals stalls.
This was not an remoted sight at The Hindu’s Food and Music Festival that concluded this weekend, as households, teams of buddies, common concert-goers, and restaurant hoppers, discovered their very own corners and gathered to have fun Madras by way of its music, and meals. The two-day fest noticed a complete footfall of 26,000, with on-line registrations of 24,000, cementing Chennai’s rising enthusiasm for the outside tradition. Sights and sounds from the weekend communicate of a metropolis in celebration.
On Day 1, after the band Tuning Folk, and rap crew Dynamix carried out together with DJ Suman setting the temper, singer and rapper Arivu took over the stage, solely to have lots of be a part of him immediately because the refrain of ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ stuffed the air. Arivu would go on to remain within the fringes of the stage to observe and groove to Agam after. One of the attendees, Yuvashree Haridoss, a daily concert-goer says, “It feels a little sinful that I am watching acts like Arivu and Agam for free. I notice a lot of first-timers and many families with kids here — such a diverse crowd. The event proved to be a great equaliser, and for people from different walks of life. This wouldn’t happen at other paid concerts.”
Audience at Island Grounds in Chennai on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
Akhila Easwaran
Children, in a bid to catch a glimpse of the stage, have been atop their mother and father’ shoulders, whereas pal teams jumped in unison with their arms up within the air as musical acts that spanned genres took to stage. Several telephones would go up every so often, with their flashlights on. Island Grounds shortly took to the occasion temper.
The stage was set on the farther finish of the open floor whereas its entryway seamlessly led attendees to the 40 meals stalls, from throughout the size and breadth of the town and typically past. Everything from vegan ice candies to Vaniyambadi-style biryani was on provide.
Artiste Gaana Vimala on stage
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B
On Day 2, a 40-minute lengthy hip hop set highlighted the various musical panorama that Chennai is understood for. A Carnatic efficiency by Srivathsan Santhanam, accompanied by Madan Mohan and Charu Hariharan eased the gang into the acquainted notes of Carnatic music, albeit with movie interludes: Srivathsan’s easy transition from ‘Maha ganapathim’ to ‘Chennai Senthamil’ was a transparent winner.
Acts to look out for:
IYKKI BERRY — Singer and songwriter Iykki Berry is a rapper from Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. A physician by coaching, certainly one of her first brushes with music occurred at AR Rahman’s KM Music Conservatory. Iykki launched her debut album in 2016 which was adopted by the Tamil single ‘Pride of Thamizhan’ in collaboration with rapper Jags Esan. As a songwriter, her first hit was ‘Enna Paathatum’ in 2018. The singer additionally appeared in iPhone Kadhali, a Tamil quick movie in the identical yr. Iykki’s first english album Mesense 1991 additionally garnered loads of applause amongst her followers.
DYNAMIX —The Dynamix troika comprising Johnny BeatsZ, Psych DropZ, San.Okay and DJ Suman consider in mixing the uncooked vitality of hip hop, rap and beat field. Johnny Beats says that the trio met as college students at Loyola College throughout rap battles and have been shortly united by the strings of music. Their purpose is to evangelise about “brotherhood and love through hip hop” says an emphatic Johnny. At the Made in Chennai occasion they introduced in parts from Carnatic in addition to trendy music practices which enthralled the viewers. In the longer term, they purpose to introduce people parts of their performances.
NAVZ-47 — If you may have watched Navz-47 carry out stay, you understand that her act is filled with fireworks. After all, certainly one of her hottest singles is titled ‘Pattasu’. Her declare to fame ‘Neeye Oli’ that includes Santhosh Narayanan and Shan Vincent de Paul that was a part of the hit Tamil movie Sarpatta Parambarai, continues to be a staple at gyms throughout Chennai trying to encourage drained members. This Tamil-Canadian singer who made the journey from Jaffna to Montreal, says that she loved listening to hip hop however hardly noticed those who seemed like her making comparable music. This continues to encourage the singer until date.
SRIVATHSAN SANTHANAM — Over a number of years, Srivathsan has tried to hone and excellent his classical music talent by taking up complicated ragas. The younger musician nonetheless, has not forgotten to offer his tunes a vivacious twist. A fast scroll by way of his social media reveals acapella covers of widespread Tamil songs with Srivatsan singing all elements. At The Hindu’s Food and Music Festival, he focussed on exposing Chennai’s classical roots by way of the phrases of well-known poets and composers. A disciple of musician AS Murali, Srivatsan additionally enjoys setting and dealing by way of cryptic crossword grids.
The music stage
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B
Following go well with have been artistes Navz-47, Milton Obadhia & Jaswanth Jason and Iykki Berry and Mapulz Rac who carried out a fast-paced hip hop set that had the gang groove, hop and bounce whereas additionally interacting with the artistes on stage. These 40 minutes set the stage to a high-energy finisher efficiency by Chennai-based Carnatic fusion of Indosoul. The acoustic set, with vocal interludes, had a definite crowd-puller: a power-packed Rajinikanth musical that includes every part from the famed Muthu bgm to all-too-familiar tunes from Sivaji.
As the weekend drew to a detailed, Chennai’s love for all issues tradition got here into full view, as sold-out meals stalls, and stomped-out live performance floor stood witness.
Audience on the Festival
| Photo Credit:
Akhila Easwaran
Source: www.thehindu.com
