Idukki: Sree Mookambika Shinkarimelam spices up poll show

IDUKKI: As candidates slog it out in the local body election campaign, chenda melam has become the newest vehicle of outreach for Usha Vijayan who is contesting from ward number 7 in Idukki’s Kudayathor grama panchayat. At each gathering, Usha and her team begins the melam slowly, but along the way it picks up pace and reaches a frenetic crescendo, before they sign it off on a high note, seeking the voters’ support.
A member of the Sree Mookambika Shinkarimelam troupe, Usha who has been with Kerala Congress for the past 15 years, stayed with the P J Joseph faction after the split in the party, and is contesting on the chenda symbol, awarded to the faction.
“I am glad to contest on the chenda symbol. The voters too enjoy the chenda melam performed as part of the election campaign. I hope it will help me to convey my message to them,” Usha said. “Our Shinkarimelam group Sree Mookambika is quite popular and for the past seven years I have been part of the group. There are 15-members in our troupe. We have performed at several private and public functions, including in neighbouring state Tamil Nadu,” said Usha.
“The pandemic has hit us hard. We haven’t performed for the past several months. If I win the election, I will continue as a percussionist. It will not hinder me from discharging my duties as a people’s representative,” she said. Usha has won from the ward consecutively in the last three elections. “The voters, even the elderly people enjoy the chenda melam. I hope their enthusiasm translates into votes,” said Usha.