Fri Jul 04 14:53:24 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi is hosting its inaugural National Percussion Festival, “Thathinthakathom,” in Thrissur from July 11-13, 2025. Curated by Keli Ramachandran as a tribute to Ustad Zakir Hussain, the festival will showcase diverse percussion traditions from across India and highlight rhythm as a cultural, artistic, and political expression. The event will feature performances, lecture demonstrations, and film screenings, with a special focus on women percussionists who are historically underrepresented. The festival includes performances by native percussion groups as well as those from other states. Pre-festival events such as seminars with Kerala Kalamandalam and the School of Drama are planned. Admission is free, with a delegate registration option available.
**News Article:**
**Thrissur to Host Inaugural National Percussion Festival, “Thathinthakathom”**
**Thrissur, Kerala – July 4, 2025** – The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi is set to launch its first-ever National Percussion Festival, “Thathinthakathom,” from July 11th to 13th in Thrissur. This landmark event will bring together a diverse array of percussion traditions from across India, offering a vibrant celebration of rhythm, sound, and cultural expression.
Curated by Keli Ramachandran, the festival is dedicated to the enduring legacy of Ustad Zakir Hussain, honoring his profound impact on the world of percussion. The event promises to explore rhythm not just as performance, but as a powerful form of dialogue, identity, and resistance.
The inaugural ceremony will take place at the KT Muhammed Theatre on July 11th, with Revenue Minister K. Rajan officiating the event. Poet and lyricist B.K. Harinarayanan will deliver a memorial speech on Ustad Zakir Hussain. Akademi chairman and percussion maestro Mattannur Sankarankutty will preside over the ceremony.
“This is a historic milestone for the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi,” said Mr. Sankarankutty, “the first-ever percussion festival in its 67-year history. I promised the percussion community this festival, and I am proud to deliver on that commitment.”
The three-day festival will feature a wide range of native percussion performances including Chenda Melam, Panchavadyam, and Thayambaka, alongside percussion performances from other states. Insightful lecture demonstrations and short film screenings will also be included.
A highlight of the festival will be a focus on women percussionists, historically underrepresented in many traditions. The “Penkaalangal” session on July 12th will feature all-women ensembles and talks led by renowned artists like Amritavarshini (Thavil), Mukta Raste (Tabla), and Nandini Varma (Thayambaka). Sukanya Ramgopal, known for her pioneering work on the Ghatam, will also perform.
The closing event, “Chairman’s Symphony,” led by Mr. Sankarankutty, will take place on July 13th.
“The festival carries a deeply political message, bringing together percussion artists from diverse sections of society,” stated Karivellur Murali, akademi secretary. “By placing women and transgender artistes at the heart of the festival, we are affirming its core message.”
Pre-festival seminars in collaboration with the Kerala Kalamandalam and School of Drama will explore the rhythmic heritage in Kathakali and cinema. The festival will be held across three venues—Black Box Theatre, Actor Murali Theatre, and K.T. Muhammed Theatre—and offers free entry. A delegate registration at ₹100 is available through the akademi’s official website.
First Piper 