National Forum (NAFO-Kuwait), a 12-year old nonpolitical nonprofit socio-cultural organization registered with the Indian Embassy, is celebrating its 12th anniversary festivities at the American International School, Maidan Hawally, on Saturday, May 16th, 2015.
The well-known Pride of Kerala, a role model bureaucrat, a poet, a lyricist, a scriptwriter, Vice-Chancellor of Malayalam University, and former Chief Secretary to the Government of Kerala, Dr. K. Jayakumar, IAS, and HE Indian Ambassador Shri. Sunil Jain will grace the occasion as Chief Guests, NAFO Officials told in a press meet held here.
The highlight of the event will be ‘Antaram’ – an Ode to womanhood, a display of feminine power, a culmination of feminine aspirational liberation, a superb spectacular drama cum dance, a unique fusion of classical dance, music, theatre and technology will be staged by renowned artists, officials told.
‘Antaram’, conceived by Gopika Varma, which will be performed by the Namaargam Dance Company (Chennai, India), will have onstage well-versed Bharathanatyam dancer Krithika Subrahmanian, veteran Kuchipudi dancer Yamini Reddy and distinguished Mohiniyattam dancer Gopika Varma. These altruistic performers will beget their areas of talent to the Kuwait audience through the vibrant depiction of the mythological characters with Krithika Subrahmanian as Andal, Gopika Varma as Kannaki, and Yamini Reddy as Vasavi.
The surprise highlight of the performance will be Suhasini Mani Ratnam, who will dance to some tunes, which are composed by OS Arun, Rajkumar Bharathi, D Sheshachari of Hyderabad Brothers, and Arun Gopinath, while the music for the theatrical portions is enduringly crafted by the legendary Oscar Winner AR Rahman and by the famed movie fable Mani Ratnam. ‘Antaram’, revealing a robust concept of universal feminine clout, energy and dynamism, embarrasses the cultural embodiment of four southern Indian States - Tamil Nadu, Telengana, Karnataka and Kerala.
NAFO has previously proven its credibility and organizational capability by successfully conducting several mega shows such as, “Sangamam” – staged by 32 artists of Soorya India, later “Samagamam”, again “Samanwayam”- staged by Padmasree Shobhana, and last year presented ‘Thaikkudam Bridge’, a nostalgic live-in concert by 17 artists.
NAFO do keep an extraordinary track record of its past accomplishments which were earlier personally witnessed and admired by highly dignified personalities like, Sri. T. K. A. Nair (Advisor to the former Prime Minister), Sri. T. P. Srinivasan (former Ambassador), Mr. Balakrishna Pillai (Former Minister of Kerala), Sri. Pandalam Sivankutty (NSS Director Board), and Dr. E. Sreedharan (the Metro Man of India), who earlier visited Kuwait as NAFO’s exclusive Chief Guests and Guests of Honor.
NAFO marks yet another year of development in its history chronicles, with vital milestones pointing to a significant transition from being just a an organization to a global partner in the process of social renaissance of the society. The recent successfully implemented “NAFO Iconic Socio-welfare Projects” - benefited by 26 families and institutions of 10 different districts of Kerala, “NAFO Snehatheertham Educational Aid” - up till now dispersed among more than 430 economically backward children, and “NAFO Welfare Aid” - so far aided 133 helpless families are only some of the true testimonies of NAFO’s social commitments.
It is reported that NAFO is planning numerous other socio-welfare projects which are aimed at the upliftment and empowerment of the lesser privileged sections of the society.
Organizers have informed that admission to the ‘Antaram’ show will be strictly restricted through invitations only, and those interested are requested to contact NAFO officials for enquiries (97277758; 66185295, 51561615, 97206792; 99591156), or email to [email protected].
NAFO President Dr T Srikumar, Acting General Secretary Suresh Kumar ON, Pradeep Kumar TKV, BS Pillai and Vijayakrishnan were present during the press meet.