In an interview to News Today, Sachu outlines her plans for uplifting the folk arts and artists.
Q: When did your affinity for fine arts begin?
A: In my childhood. My sister and I lived with my grandmother. She loved music and dance and rented a huge hall in our home to KN Dandayuthapani Pillai a dance master. Myself and my sister used to watch the students dance and was drawn to the art. That was the beginning of my association with art forms. Later on I formally trained in Bharatanatyam and Carnatic vocal music. Though I had no formal arangetram I have given about thousand bharatanatyam performances along with my sister. I have also done many dance numbers in films.
Q: Will you be incorporating ideas from films here?
A : I want to present some numbers from old films like Vasanthothsavam danced by Kumari Kamala, Pinnal Kolattam and Kutrala Kuravanji. I am already looking for people to train dancers to present the Pinnal Kolattam.
Q: What will be your main focus?
A: The main focus will be promotion of the folk arts. Sabhas are not promoting these arts and it is for the Manram to promote them. I specially want to be bring about an inter state cultural exchange program wherein artistes of one state will perform in another and vice versa. This will bring about an exchange of cultural ideas, provide new forms of entertainment and give the artistes a good exposure.. Some of the arts like Bommalattam, Karagattam and Kavadi need to be nurtured. I am touring various districts and arranging performances of folk arts there to create awareness about the art form. We are seeing that it is organised during the weekends so that it will attract good crowds.
Q: How do you plan to raise the economic status of the artistes?
A: We are not just asking veterans to perform but also inviting those in the second rung. This will help more artistes to earn. Interstate cultural programmes will benefit them. We are planning to increase the pension for artistes also.
Q: How can these arts be nurtured?
A: They can be nurtured by exposing the youth to them. They will get interested and a few may pursue them.
Q: What is your biggest ambition for the Manram ?
A: I want it to have a permanent auditorium of its own in every district. This will enable us to host our programmes when we want to and in the manner we want to.
