Maestro to celebrate 71st b’day with a melam performance

Tripunithura: For over 39 years, percussion maestro Peruvanam Kuttan Marar has celebrated his birthdays with festivities at the Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple, marking the occasion with a special melam performance. This year, on Dec 2, Marar will perform his traditional 71st birthday melam as part of the Thrikketta Purappadu, a ceremony during the annual temple festival.Marar has been a key figure in the renowned Panchari Melam at the temple since 1985. "I began by leading a group of artists from the Kochi Royal family," Marar recalls. "Before that, in 1982, I led a group of young artists in their debut melam performance during the Dashami Vilakku in Guruvayur. Marar's journey into the world of percussion began under the tutelage of legendary artists like Narayana Marar and Appu Marar. His debut performance at the Tripunithura Vrischikolsavam in 1976 marked the start of a distinguished career.Recently, the Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple festival committee introduced a change by appointing eight helmsmen for the eight days of Panchari Melam. Marar expressed his concerns about this decision, stressing that melams should be led by a single, experienced artist who has spent years performing with legends. "A melam is a team effort, and only an artist who has stood at the forefront for many years, learning from great masters, can effectively lead a group from diverse backgrounds," he said.