Nadan Pattu Finds Growing Voice at State School Arts Festival, Spotlighting Kerala’s Living Heritage
K.K. Najeeb via The Hindu
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Folk Song, popularly known as Nadan Pattu, may have been introduced at the State School Arts Festival more than a decade ago, but its emotional pull and cultural depth continue to grow stronger with each passing year. Rooted in raw, rustic expression, these songs feel less composed and more discovered, as if they rise naturally from the land, carrying generations of memory, wisdom, and history within their rhythms.
Sung traditionally among indigenous and rural communities, Nadan Pattu has been passed down orally over centuries. Each song reflects local life, customs, struggles, and celebrations, giving it an authenticity that resonates deeply with audiences. That inherent appeal was evident on Friday when the competition drew heavy footfall at the Kerala Bank Auditorium, even triggering protests over the lack of adequate seating space.
Behind the Songs Lies Years of Work
Veteran folk song artiste Reeju Avala, who has spent nearly 25 years in the field, said collecting these songs requires patience, trust, and deep engagement with communities.
“We once stayed in a tribal hamlet in Idukki for seven days,” he recalled. “The community shared their lives, stories, and experiences with us. But they didn’t give us their songs.” According to Avala, songs are often the most guarded aspect of community identity, shared only when deep bonds are formed.
Not Folklore, but Heritage
Folklorist Gireesh Ambra, who served as a judge at the competition, stressed that these performances go beyond entertainment. “The right word is heritage, not folklore,” he said. “These songs carry heritage within them.”
Echoing this sentiment, artiste Jayaram Manchery underlined the urgency of preservation. “We need to keep collecting these songs and safeguarding them for future generations,” he said, pointing to the risk of oral traditions fading in the absence of documentation.
Students Keep the Tradition Alive
For students, the competition offered more than trophies. Arya Nanda, a student from SNHSS North Paravur and a member of the school’s Nadan Pattu team, said such platforms are vital. “These competitions help us understand where we come from. They connect us to stories we may otherwise never hear,” she said.
Armed with traditional instruments such as maram, thudi, chilambu, and udukku, student performers enthralled audiences with renditions of kottum kali pattu, valanattipattu, oothattapattu, and other traditional forms. The performances reflected both discipline and devotion to cultural roots.
Tradition That Evolves With Time
Kannur-based folk song artiste Ramshi Pattuvam noted that Nadan Pattu is not static. “Songs change as they are passed on,” he said, explaining that minor tweaks are sometimes made to make them relatable to wider audiences without losing their core spirit.
This evolution, artists say, is what keeps the tradition alive rather than diluting it.
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The growing popularity of Nadan Pattu at the State School Arts Festival shows that tradition still has a powerful place in modern education. These songs are not museum pieces; they are living expressions of Kerala’s cultural soul. By giving students space to perform and audiences space to listen, the festival does more than celebrate art—it safeguards heritage. In a fast-changing world, Nadan Pattu reminds us that progress does not have to come at the cost of roots.