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The Brief story of Tamil Maiyam


Birth	July 26th 2002.

Core Belief	Art, music, literature and culture to promote and nurture a harmonious, inclusive, humane, progressive and enlightened society.

Big success initiatives	Thiruvasagam in Symphony – Oratorio Chennai Sangamam GiveLife Chennai Marathon Season of Love.

Other Projects	Mozart Meets India. வாழும் வள்ளுவம். Indian Christmas. Insha Allah. ஜெய ஜெய தேவி. கண்டேன் கண்குளிர.

Dreams	A world class performing Art center for Chennai. A Training and Research Center for Folk Arts.


Tamil Maiyam was founded as a private Trust in July 2002. The maiden project ‘Thiruvasagam in Symphonic Oratorio’ by llaiyaraja saw the light of the day largely because of the support it got from the general public. Consequently Tamil Maiyam converted itself in to a Public Charitable Trust in 2006.Today ten ladies and gentlemen of remarkable calibre and public standing jointly governs and manages this organization. Tamil Maiyam believes that art, music, and literature have unique potential to nurture and advance a harmonious, humane, progressive, enlightened and self-confident society. With this board understanding we deploy a two way strategy of development and democratization of artd.Devlopment by supporting the artists and creating avenues, and democratize by bringing them closer to the community and make it accessible to as many to experience and learn. Giving to Chennai a world class Center for Performing Arts and starting a Training & Research Center for folk Arts remain the medium term dreams of Tamil Maiyam. Tamil Maiyam stands for a democratic, secular, inclusive, inclusive and equitable society. To that end we are very proud about its composition and prosperities it has created so far. Of all, the best in terms of inclusively, vertsatily and cultural rooted ness is Chennai Sangamam.

Tamil Maiyam Milestones

Chennai Sangamam 2009 The Folk Art forms which will be performed during the Chennai Sangamam 2009: Chaparakattu, Bommalaattam, Villpattu, Drama, Kaniyan Koothu, Paavaikoothu, Therukoothu, Vedamtharitha Attam, Maankombu, Uriadi, Udukai, Thudumbattam, Thodargal, Thevar Attam, Tharai Thappatai, Snake Dance, Singura Chendai, Silambatam, Servai Attam, Raja Rani Attam, Porrpari, Poikal Kuthirai, Periya Melam, Padukasi Attam, Oyil Attam, Oppari Song, Naiyandi Melam, Mayilattam, Madattam, Kuravan Kurathi Attam, Kumni Attam, Kondathattam, Kombu Isai, Komali Koothu, Kolaattam,Puli Attam, Kokili Kattai, Kavadi Attam, Vilangu, Kattai Kuzhal, Parai Attam, Kilavan Kilavi Attam, Karakam, Kalli Attam, Kaliyal Attam, Singara Chendai(woman),Kalari Fight , Kai Silambattam, Kadavumathattam,Jimla Melam, Jikattam, Periya Karakam, Gana Song, Chettiyar Bommai, Chendai Melam, Chakai Kuchi Attam, Azhi Attam. Chennai Sangamam 2009-January 10-16 7days 17 venues 1700 folk Artists Grand inaugural show by 450 artists Bombay Jaysree, Sutha Raghunathan, Ranjani-Gayathri, Sowmya, Sanjay Subramamyan, O.S. Arun., Umaiyalpuram Sivaraman, Neyveli Santhanagopalan, Kanyakumari, Ganesh-Kumaresh to perform in the open parks Flower Show, Fruits Show. 18 Five Star hotels to set shop in the parks Exquisite native cuisines of kongunad & Chettinad.Recreating ancient Tamil cuisines as well as the cuisine of Raja Serfoji of Tanjore.And the Iruttu Kadai Halwa, Manapuri Murukku, Kovilpatti Kadali Mittai, Virudunagar paratta and Dindigul venu Biriyani Rural games of silambam, Malyutham, Vazhukkumaram, uriyadi and many more Spectacular Finale with Fire works. It’s the Open Festival, biggest of India. And it’s our Festival! It’s also the only festival of India that belongs to people of the religions as well as to the non-believers. The harvest fest of Tamil antiquity – the Pongal rediscovering itself as urban thanks giving.

GiveLife Chennai Marathon ‘I have never seen anything like this in my life. It’s a sea of humanity’. -Mr.M.S.Gill, Union Minister for Sports. Chennai had not seen such a human gathering in the recent years. More than 170000 Chennaites came together to run for a cause of August 31, 2008. The run was in aid of GiveLife, an independent charity based in Chennai. GiveLife provides to poor, destitute children scholarship, everyday breakfast, motivational training and career guidance. The project currently supports 14600 children, arresting child labour and trafficking in children. GiveLife Chennai Marathon was sponsored by the MARG Group of Companies and Co-sponsored by the Shriram Properties. The run was an inspiring message to the nation that Chennai truly cares.

Thiruvasakam – Symphonic Oratorio

		The best of all the music I have listened to in my entire life.
			--Stephen Schwartz Oscar Award winner – Lyricist.

The musical magnum opus of Maestro Ilaiyaraja, orchestrated in the Oratorio style, the enthralling symphonic background played by the 146 strength Hungarian Budapest Symphony Orchestra. Recorded in Budapest, New York, Bombay and Chennai, the sound mixing was done by Richard King, a Grammy Award winner at the Sony Studios, New York. The project was conceptualized and coordinated by Rev. Fr. Jegath Gaspar Raj. Key patrons of the project were Akhila Srinivasan, Dr. Shankar-USA, Pandiarajan, Hema Latha Pandiarajan, Joseph Enok and Aruna Subramaniam. Dr. Manmohansingh, the Prime Minister of India received the first copy; Former President Dr Abdul Kalam listened to it in the Rashtapathi Bhavan, and the then Union Minister For Culture Mr. Jaipal Reddy launched it in Chennai on June 30, 2005.

			- Tamil Maiyam


Mozart Meets India

		Bold, splendid, unbelievable creativity.
			- Sujatha, writer.

The carnatic ragas Kaapi, Banduvarali, Bilahari, Sankarabaranam, Sinthu Bhairavi and Hamsananthi are explored in the Western Symphony system giving harmonic versatility to the ragas. That both systems were brought to blend without losing their distinctive grammar and character is the success of this challenging effort. An unknown genius from Tirunelveli, Jesuraj worked the musical wonder with conceptual backing from Rev. Fr. Jegath Gaspar Raj. Kanimozhi patronized the project. The creation had a philosophy to experiment. That integration need not necessarily mean dissolution of individual identities. Harmonious integration is possible among cultures and civilizations which retain their unique characters and identities.

			- Tamil Maiyam


Vazhum Valluvam

		No one ever produced an ethical master piece like Thirukural that could belong to people of all religions, and to the non believers.
			-Rev. Dr. S. J. Emmanuel, Germany

Among the books in Tamil, Thirukural by far has the largest number of translations. It’s neither a scripture nor an epic, but an extraordinary treatise on the Art of Living. It also bears evidence to the level of civilization and culture as well as intellectual attainments the Tamils reached nearly 2000 years ago. ‘Vazhum Valluvam’ puts to music 50 couplets from Thirukural. The relevance of Thirukural has become the focus of intense discussions in the context of the violence and politics of hatred perpetrated in the name of religions. Thirukural could be the most eminent Book which can give foundations for a system of ethics and spirituality beyond the boundaries of religions.

			- Tamil Maiyam


Indian Christmas

		No words to express the beauty and depth of Indian music.
			-Maria de Lourdes Lodi Rissini. Madrid, Spain.

Not many could imagine that the eternally reverberating carol ‘Silent Night’ could be quietly brought to ‘Neelambari’ raagam. And the ‘Jingle Bells’ to Kathana Kuthu Koolam. Indeed an extraordinary effort which took the essence and feel of Indian music to Europe and North America. Conceptualized by Rev. Fr. Jegath Gaspar Raj and orchestrated by Nellai Jesuraj. Tamil Maiyam passionately believes in the beauty and purposefulness of enriching conversations and dialogue through arts and culture. Dogmatism and exclusivity are the antithesis of art, music and culture which actually reveal the ultimate essence of the human quest for freedom and meaning. Diversity is part of our spirituality. We in Tamil Maiyam celebrate it.

- Tamil Maiyam

Insha Allah

They are the springs of the Rajasthan desert.

- Paul Jacob, Music Composer

‘Someone is listening! A Guru, a wise one!’ sang Kabir, 600 years ago. Mukhtiar Ali who hail from the Pugal village of Rajasthan bordering Pakistan brought the ethereal spirit of Sufi music to Chennai. In the Egmore Museum Theatre it was an experience of immersion, provocation, reflection and revelation. The superb blend of mysticism, classicism and folk idioms made Mukhtiar Ali’s music splendid and extraordinary.

Sufism is the mystical and ancient branch of Islam that emphasizes the seeker’s path toward ecstatic unity with God. The great Sufi Jalaludin Rumi wrote in the 13th century thus: “Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened. Don’t open the door to the study and begin reading. Instead take down a musical instrument. Let the beauty we love be what we do”.

- Tamil Maiyam

Jaya Jaya Devi

Classical and contemporary, having strong reflections on gender equity.

- T. Jegannathan.

A full length operatic ballet composed by the legendary violinist composer Lalgudi Jayaraman which celebrates the power of Devi, the feminine component of divinity through a seamless synthesis of dance, theatre and music. Illustrating the fundamental unity and equality of Sakthi and Sivam, the dynamic and static constituents of the cosmos Jaya Jaya Devi could be best described as classical and contemporary.

An outstanding accompanist and soloist, Lalgudi’s originality and experience in both spheres flow in to this compositions. His emphasis on linguistic import enhances his melodic content. He perceives the melody and meaning as inseparable infusing as much euphony in to the word as in to the swaras. His unwavering focus on self surrendering devotion places him among the great composers of carnatic music.

- Tamil Maiyam

Season of Love

Christmas & New Year are times of giving and sharing. Margazhi as a month brings music, dance and bakhthi. Season of Love celebrates the spirit of this season. It brought together thousands of orphan & street children and people of Chennai to share some moments of joy and care. It ran campaigns against violence, terror and hatred. From the Season of Love proceeds we have built care homes for the children of migrant workers and provided scholarship to hundreds of poor children.

Season of Love 2008 was unique. On December 26 while believers walked from Temples, Churches and mosques, non-believers started from Periar statue to converge near Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Marina. They prayed for harmony and remembered the victims of violence with candle light vigil. On December 27 the city came together with 5000 orphans and street children conquering the mood of despair through compassion. The children were shared good food, gifts, New Year clothes and love. The same story of joy followed the next day with the elderly.

- Tamil Maiyam

தமிழ் மையத்தின் "நல்லேர்"- மொழியியல், சமூகவியல், நவீனத்துவம், சார்ந்த துறைகளில் தரமான படைப்புகளை தரும் பதிப்பகம்.

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