HONOURING and preserving Indian traditional arts such as the ‘kollattam’, (stick dance), ensures that future generations remain connected to their cultural roots.
T. Amarendran, the 42-year-old leader of the Waterfall Kollattam Group, shared that the group has been safeguarding and carrying forward the art of ‘kollattam’ for the past three generations.
Previously known as the Sri Naganarthar Kollattam Group, the team is believed to have been founded by Narayanasamy. However, its history, which dates back to the 1960s, is still being researched.
According to Amarendran, his team is primarily made up of young members, ranging from 21 to 42 years old. The group’s major performances take place during the annual Thaipusam celebrations.
“We usually practise for two months leading up to Thaipusam, and some of our members work in Singapore. Every year, they return to perform, practising only two or three days before the event,” he said during an interview with Buletin Mutiara recently.
“Most of them are experienced artists who already know the techniques of ‘kollattam’. When they arrive, they quickly pick up the routine and are ready to perform.”
Amarendran, who has been performing the art for 13 years, is passionate about ensuring the younger generation continues this tradition.
“We currently have 70 members, and we are actively working towards attracting more young people to learn this traditional art.”
One of the main challenges, he noted, is the cost of wooden sticks, priced at RM12 each, with a pair required per person. The sticks also wear out over time and must be replaced.
According to Amarendran, music plays a crucial role in enhancing the ‘kollattam’ performance, as the rhythmic beats elevate the dance.
“The synchronicity between the urumi melam (Indian traditional drum) and the ‘kollattam’ strike is essential, as they complement each other.
“As a leader, I use a whistle to signal the players to transition to a specific beat. If the crowd is large, we use a horn to ensure they can hear the cues clearly.”
Three primary ‘kollattam’ patterns are rectangular formation, circular formation, and lotus formation.
The ‘adi’ (strikes) under rectangular formation include zig-zag, melgumi, hanuman, malle kelle, kaiku rende, 4 join, kaiku naalu, veedu, vissiri, mande, vaanem, ambu, pambu, and mayekam.
“For circular formation, there are two additional strikes; back up and back down.As for lotus formation, the strikes same as those in the rectangular formation,” Amarendran added.
Amarendran also expressed his desire to reintroduce the fire element into performances, a technique widely used by the group’s predecessors in the 1970s.
“To recruit more youngsters, I encourage each member to bring at least one new person into the group so we can continue passing down this heritage.”
Meanwhile, senior and former artist P.Letchumuna described the art form as a fusion of semi-martial arts and folk dance, holding deep cultural significance.
“It is performed during festivals, celebrations, and community events, adding to the joy of the occasion.
“In Tamil, we call it ‘parambariyam’, which means heritage and traditions passed down through generations.
“The movements incorporate martial arts elements, showcasing remarkable agility, stamina, and precision. It also instils self-discipline,” he added.
Looking ahead, Amarendran and Letchumuna plan to organise workshops and collaborate with Tamil schools to inspire young people and instil a love for kollattam.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix courtesy of Waterfall Kollattam Group