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Anandha Kondaattam 2025
A vibrant festival celebrating Singapore’s Indian traditional folk art, Anandha Kondaattam, will take place at the Esplanade’s outdoor theatre on Aug 29 and 30. There will be four outdoor performances, held at 7.30pm and 9pm each day, which are free for all to attend.
Presented by Anandha Traditional Arts and Music (ATAM), the festival will showcase over 20 traditional art forms from across Singapore’s Indian sub-ethnic groups, such as bhangra, chendamelam, mayilattam, kalbeliya, and more. Audiences can expect interactive audience segments, live music, and performances featuring over 150 local and international artistes.
Some highlights include electrifying acts like rap-infused Chenda Melam and Urumi Melam by rap artist Yung Raja. The specially crafted finale, a communal dance titled Singattam, invites the audience to join in the celebration and move with the performers.
At its inauguration in 2024, Anandha Kondattam drew over 18,000 attendees, with an additional 6,000 joining via livestream, and featured over 200 performing artists. This year’s edition pays tribute to the resilience and cultural heritage of the Indian community that has shaped Singapore’s multicultural identity for more than six decades.
By uniting a wide range of folk art forms, the festival cultivates an inclusive environment where communities can connect through the shared language of culture. It empowers local artists, supports community engagement, and ensures that traditional art forms are both preserved and celebrated in contemporary times.
Songs of Paradise
The Hindi musical drama inspired by the extraordinary tale of the first Kashmiri female playback singer, Padma Shri awardee Raj Begum, is set to be released globally on Amazon Prime Video on Aug 29. Directed by Kashmiri filmmaker Danish Renzu, the film is poised as a heartfelt tribute to the iconic “Melody Queen of Kashmir”.
The film’s soul-stirring soundtrack, composed by Abhay Sopori and enlivened with the vocals of Masrat Un Nissa, elevates the cinematic experience and effectively weaves Kashmir’s rich musical heritage into its narrative.
The film’s trailer dropped on YouTube on Aug 25 and offers a glimpse into the life and times of Noor Begum, portrayed across two generations by Saba Azad and Soni Razdan. Set in the 1950s, the story follows Noor’s journey as a gifted, young singer who defies societal expectations and at her father’s request, joins a competition at Radio Kashmir that is open only to men. Zain Khan Durrani, Sheeba Chaddha, Taaruk Raina, and Lillete Dubey round out the ensemble cast.
At a time when women in Kashmir were largely confined to their homes, Raj Begum’s songs represented freedom and resilience. One YouTube commenter wrote: “I recall listening to her songs in Kashmir, when I was there. I just sat there gazing into the abyss. Eagerly waiting for the movie. Thank you Prime Video for introducing her story to us.”
