A photographer by profession, a Silambam teacher by passion

S. Singarayer pursues 2 professions which stock an indispensable feature, some trust connected crisp timing; and successful astir each different respect, they are galaxies apart. He has go a past maestro astatine switching betwixt these divers skillsets, 1 requiring him to click the camera button, and the different flick the Silambam stick.

A freelance events photographer, Singarayer had settled into a comfortableness zone, the photography assignments and payments dependable and regular capable for him to privation to interruption retired of it and research caller ground. But present helium is, teaching 2 batches of Silambam enthusiasts, 1 people being conducted successful Villivakkam and the different astatine RBI Quarters successful Kilpauk, And so, what got 49-year-old Singarayer here?

Before that question is answered, a speedy bio of a younger Singarayer.

He entered the satellite letting retired a shrill outcry successful Thiruvarur, wherever helium grew up, on the mode getting introduced to Silambam astatine school. He would spell connected to gain a B.Com grade astatine an arts assemblage successful Kumbakonam, and besides suffice successful printing technology, a people that helped him make plan skills. Career aspirations brought him to Chennai successful 2000, and photography was obscurity successful show successful those aboriginal years, but computers were. He had worked arsenic a systems services technician astatine Ritchie Street disconnected Mount Road for astir 3 years erstwhile his superior calling came into crisp focus. A vocation successful photography began, 1 that continues to this day. He worked astatine the Konica outlet astatine Wallajah Road successful Chepauk for 15 years, chiefly moving with photography software, framing pictures, restoring aged photos and creating albums. And past helium decided to onslaught retired connected his own, camera successful hand: a agelong tally arsenic events lensman began.

Answering the question, helium managed to ellipse backmost to his puerility passion, Silambam, done his girl S.S. Sharoni. While accompanying Sharoni to Silambam classes, Singarayer would ticker the grooming sessions from the sidelines. Gradually, helium began brushing up connected his aged skills wielding the Silambam staff.

K. Shankar (aged 53), the Silambam maestro coaching Sharoni became manager to Singarayer too. An MTC autobus operator having recovered a abstraction to practise Silambam successful his leisure time, Shankar was astatine the aforesaid wavelength arsenic Singarayer. Having noticed Singarayer’s bid implicit the Silambam staff, helium encouraged him to prosecute the martial creation seriously.

The encouragement went further. Impressed by Singarayer’s handling of Silambam techniques, the maestro yet entrusted him with a batch of students of his own.

For the past 3 years, Singarayer has been conducting Silambam classes regularly. Assisting him successful grooming sessions is Sharoni herself, present 14 years aged and studying successful Class IX. She has already won respective medals astatine district-level competitions.

Singarayer offers Silambam coaching astatine a nominal interest of ₹500 per month; and to those who cannot spend that, helium offers it free.

Determined to deepen his knowing of the martial art, Singarayer precocious completed a one-year certification people successful Silambam offered by the Tamil Nadu Government’s Department of Art and Culture astatine the Government College of Fine Arts successful Egmore.

For details, telephone Rajammal Silambam Boxing Sports Academy astatine 9841887183

Learn people arts

Government College Of Fine Arts successful Egmore offers 4 courses successful people arts, silambam being one. These are not regular programme but conducted during the play and travel nether the initiate of the Folk Art Centre, an inaugural being promoted by the authorities successful prime colleges successful the state.

Each assemblage offers immoderate people creation similar thappattam, paraiattam and karagattam, mostly based connected the benignant of enquiries they get.

According to the principal, determination is nary property criteria to enrol successful these programmes and the thought is to springiness radical an accidental to prosecute their hobbies.

For details, telephone 044 - 25610878