Chennai’s Kannagi Nagar has sights unlike some other places on a Sunday morning.
At intersections, riding bikes and cycling on parallel roads are the children of Kannagi Nagar, armed with their prized possessions: Silambam staff ( Kombu,
Arriving at 6 a.m., they laboriously make their way to a small field surrounded by busy housing board settlements to learn the ancient Tamil martial art under the strict guidance of Master Lakshmipathy, a resident of Kannagi Nagar himself. They begin with a warm up, practicing quick footwork, and proceed to dueling and performing in quick succession.
Kanishk, currently in second grade, only smiles shyly but transforms as soon as she touches him. Kombu, In seconds, the staff becomes an extension of her body as she moves with poise and control, and glides perfectly on the ground. Kanishk is one of over 70 students of Lakshmipathy, who are from all over the area.
Children of Kannagi Nagar wearing kung fu uniforms practicing Silambam. Photo credit: Johan Satyadas
I ask, “Why Silambam?” “It’s our Parambariya wrist. We shouldn’t ignore it,” said 14-year-old Vishal, nodding his head seriously without stopping even once. “It feels really good to learn something that belongs to us.”
It is this spirit that has led to the apparent resurgence of Silambam in the last three to four years.
With a history of more than five thousand years, some literature suggests that silambam was used by South Indian rulers for warfare and self-defense in the Sangam age. Although there is recorded evidence of palm manuscripts that suggest the presence of the artform as early as the 4th century BCE, it is more likely to have been a survival technique developed by hunter-gatherers. However, when the British came to India, Kalarupa took on a performative role, mainly used for showcases.
With the end of colonial rule, Silambam’s identity as a martial art form came to the fore, once again, thanks to its presence in celluloid.
The stick used now is made of fine and flexible cane bamboo, while for iterations of the stick – m On Cambu, Well Kombu, surul wall and daggers – various materials such as wood, iron and steel are used.
Today, Silambam is clearly having its moment in the sun. It continues to make its presence felt by rising above socio-economic background and adopting urban locations and attitudes while maintaining its strong Tamil identity.
a quiet revolution
In housing board settlements such as Kannagi Nagar and Nochikuppam in Chennai, silambam is a silent means of empowerment and rehabilitation.
Lakshmipathy says, “A few years ago, I went for a job interview and was told that I was not eligible because I am from Kannagi Nagar. It made me think about the future of my children.”
This realization, along with the need to change public perception of an area riddled with crime and gender-based violence, prompted her to start Silambam classes for children seven years ago.
“Silambam requires focus and discipline. I firmly believe that the class will divert their attention from other vicious activities and guide them on the right path. It will prepare them for life,” says Lakshmipathy, who is a delivery executive by day.
In 2021, when the Tamil Nadu government recognized weapon-based Kalarupa’s eligibility for the 3% sports quota, it sparked interest. “It was a huge encouragement, and we started seeing a lot of support from parents since then.”
Coimbatore-based Tholkappian echoes this sentiment. The Silambam teachers, who hail from a working-class background, now run Tholakalai Silambam, a school that has become a three-legged institution among colleges and schools in Coimbatore with 300 students.
Master Lakshmipati | Photo credit: Johan Satyadas
“Around 60% to 70% students come for certificates which will help them in future. After the pandemic, interest has increased exponentially,” says Tholkappiyan.
The stigma surrounding the art as a ‘rural sport’ has also reduced. He says, “Earlier people used to ask, Ana, kuchi suthurathu thane? (It’s just twirling the stick, isn’t it?)Now, the sport is being taken seriously.
an urban lens
Cut to a more urban landscape, and Silbam has effortlessly managed to merge into the social fabric of cities like Chennai. Like running, cycling and boxing, martial arts have become common in the early morning urban landscape.
“When I was looking for traditional silambam classes in the city a decade ago, there were no recommendations nor could I find any,” says Chennai-based visual artist, teacher and international silambam practitioner Aishwarya Manivannan. He finally finds his mentor ‘Power’ Pandian Posture, and was able to start. However, she was the only woman in a class of about 30.
“In contrast now, if you just drive around in the morning, you can see there are silambam classes in almost every single public park. You see children taking Kombu Parents with kids in public transport and on bikes, on their way to classes… Frankly, a lot more people know about Silambam than our own ancient martial art,” says Aishwarya, adding that The number of people learning the art has “skyrocketed”.
Aishwarya Manivannan | Photo credit: Johan Satyadas
Unlike some traditional art forms, which have only gained popularity without any active implementation, Silambam has seen people practicing continuously.
“Now you can learn and practice Silambam as a martial art, performing art or sport. It is fascinating to see how something so deeply rooted in Tamil culture has evolved over thousands of years to become what it is,” says Aishwarya. At a recent open workshop, Aishwarya had an inspiring contingent of designers, teachers, doctors, engineers and college students as enthusiastic participants.
The martial art is also seeing modern interpretations and adaptations. Hareni, a 24-year-old professional Bharatanatyam dancer from Tiruchi’s Manapparai, is trying to combine the two art forms in performance. “The footwork for both, though not identical, can be synced. Silambam is considered masculine, while Bharatanatyam is considered a more feminine art form. Mixing the two will make it a character of both,” says Hareni. Furthermore, he hopes that this innovation will further the popularity of Silambam and make it more theatrical.
Lately, Tholkappiyan says adults are taking classes to build fitness routines around sports. “Silambam carves the body and the mind. We see a lot of adults who are disillusioned with gym learning, some of them because of its Tamil roots,” says Tholkappian.
For Aishwarya, Silambam is simply meditation through movement. “It’s refreshing and gives me a lot of energy. The journey has been empowering in many different ways, not only physically but also emotionally. Many people view martial arts as ‘violence’ or ‘aggression,’ she says. Let’s see in. But through practice this assumption gets destroyed.
“We finally calm down and connect with our surroundings, body and mind. It gives us ground and at the same time gives us wings.”