A Mohiniyattam dancer putting final touches to her make-up before a performance in the High School Girls category at the State School Arts Festival in Kozhikode. , Photo Credit: Saqer Hussain
Deepu Thrissur sits among the make-up materials, fixing the eyebrows of a Mohiniyattam contestant. She is the sixth dancer he is grooming for the ongoing State School Arts Festival (kalolasavam), but the 47-year-old makeup artist shows no signs of fatigue. He will be preparing the faces of around 25 contestants at the festival. Deepu says he is relieved that the competitions are back.
pandemic effect
makeup artists are back in business
As the Kerala school Kalolsavam resumes after a hiatus, make-up artistes, costume makers and temple jewelery sellers are overjoyed. The annual arts festival used to be a revenue spinner for them, and after missing two full seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have finally broken free of the lull.
Deepu says the pandemic-induced break was a big blow for most makeup artists, especially those just starting out. “There are hundreds of people who depend on it. I have been in this field for the last 27 years and we had never faced anything like this.
Usually, the art festival season starts from July, a time when the school level selection process begins. “Then there are sub-district and district fights, followed by the grand finale. After the school Kalolasavam, it is time for the university festivities. We charge ₹2,500 and above for a single item and it takes around two hours to prepare a single dancer for Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam, Kuchipudi or Keralanadam,” says Deepu.
fresh in memory
For celebrity makeup artist Renju Renjimar, the sights and sounds of all the festivals are still fresh in his memory. “The last time I attended the festival was here (Kozhikode) and it is nostalgia for every makeup artist out there. Two decades later, I am doing makeup for a contestant participating in a Kuchipudi competition. It is definitely a place where careers are made,” she says.
Raju of Kalyanarama Chamayam Costume in Thiruvananthapuram says the state arts festival has finally brought business back to normal. “For the Kozhikode event, we have hired hundreds of costumes, especially for group dances and fancy dress,” he says.
The Kala Utsav has come as a relief for Saryu Shree, who rents temple jewelery sets for classical dances. “We were struggling as we had no income during the last two years. Since all well-known artists will have their own collection, students participating in youth festivals are our main customers and they want the best for state-level competitions,” she says.
New Contacts, New Customers
Rakesh who has been working as a hairstylist since 2011 says that the working hours are not clear during Kallotsavam. “We play an important role as the presence of the contestant is very important. Apart from Mohiniattam and Keralanadanam, makeup and hairstyles are probably different for each dance form depending on the theme. Everything has to be perfect during the performance. If a hair accessory or jewelery remains out of place, it will affect the grade,” says Rakesh.
He points out that Kalolswam is also a platform that gives artistes like him a chance to make new contacts and acquire new clients. “This is an opportunity to showcase our work. Dance teachers and parents will get in touch with us upon seeing this.”