Utsaham - The Cultural Event, 2017

NPS International, Chennai celebrated the annual Cultural Days on the 21st and 22nd of December, 2017. This year the students of grade 5-11 showcased the state of Tamil Nadu. They performed to dances, songs and skit depicting the theme of the day NAMMA NADU – TAMIL NADU. The students of the Primary years set out to perform on the theme - Rivers – the flow of life.

The students of Grade 1 performed to “Jallam Jeevanam” depicting that water is the elixir of life for plants, animals and the humankind. Followed by Grade 2 who walked the audience through the jungles of the Amazon – the most bountiful river.

Tracing the tales of Egypt – the gift of the Nile, the students of grade 3 brought to life the story of Cleopatra, the Queen of the Nile. From foreign lands, the students of grade 4 brought us home to our very own Ganga – the soul of India.

Ms. Anushka Ravishankar, a writer and author of children’s books presided the Primary Years’ program. She has written over thirty books for children, including picture books in verse, chapter books, retellings of folk tales and non-fiction. Several of them have been published internationally and have won awards.

The dances, the music, the costumes and the performances bewitched the audience and sent home every one with a sense of pride and happiness at the performances presented by the students of the Primary years.

The visual treat by the Senior students, which took us to the various aspects that make the state of Tamilnadu a glorious one, was presided by Padmashri Shri Thota Tharrani, Indian film art director and production designer and Smt. Sharada Thota Tharrani, a multifaceted personality, a talented Carnatic music exponent, a brilliant Veena artiste and a teacher par excellence.

Students of Grade 5 commenced the program by paying homage to the great poets of the state and performed to the songs of Maha Kavi Bharathiyar. This was followed by a depiction of the festivals of Tamilnadu by Grade 6.

A mime on Chennai with its penchant for technology was skillfully staged by the Grade 9 students, while the Grade 7 presented dance forms like Mayilattam, Thappaattam, Oyilattam, and Karakattam.

The show stopper however was the staging of a scene from Silapathigaram by students of Grade 8, which transported one and all to those glorious times.

In all it was an evening that was both enchanting and entertaining and one came away feeling so proud to be a part of the great state that we call home – Tamil Nadu.