The concept of KALAMELA was born in 2007, designed and structured by enthusiastic and indefatigable art lovers within the AMMA community. Kalamela in Malayalam language, meaning Festival of arts, started off in a relatively modest manner at the Parks Community Centre, Angle Park with the stated aim to showcase cultural talents from within our own community and other Indian communities besides, various cultural organisations of other Nationalities which is a hallmark of a migrant enriched country like Australia. One of the highlights of the program was the performance of SAREGAMA, the in -house music troupe of AMMA. They left the spectators enthralled with their rendition of popular movie chartbusters in both Malayalam and Hindi (Bollywood).
The program line up would typically be a blend of mellifluous Indian classical and Bollywood music, traditional dance, and Indian live music along with performances from other countries. Other innovation brought about in 2010 is the marketing of the event by the selling of tickets through BASS to create awareness about the show.
“Kalamela gives me an opportunity to experience a culture that I was not born into but one that is very dear to my heart. The colour and movement of the dances and the rhythm of the music gives mean insight and appreciation for the rich art forms that are India”, Says Adrian Redman, who was Master of Ceremony for Kalamela 2008.“Kalamela is one of the most fascinating multicultural events in Adelaide. It is a superb blending of different cultures and heritage in a harmonious environment”, says Dianee Nelson, another ardent art lover and a regular viewer of the annual festival.
In this year, we have done meticulous research to identify and invite the best artists from the Indian Diaspora in addition to top class acts from the Irish, Ukrainian, Bhutanese Japanese communities. This year Adelaide Kalamela will he held at the prestigious Her Majesty's Theater. All the more, the free child minding services on offer at the venue has proven to be an absolute boon for art lovers who would have had to stay away for the sake of their kids.
Adelaide Kalamela has certainly come a long way over the past five years and it has definitely validated its mission statement to serve as a unique link between AMMA and the other communities of Adelaide, whereby everyone gains through the exchange of their cultural identities on a common platform. Future trends would be to attract artists from interstate and abroad without diluting the platform Kalamela provides to the local performers.
AMMA would like to reaffirm its pledge to the art connoisseurs in Adelaide that it will strive to build on the legacy of Kalamela and ensure this magnificent amalgam of various cultures will continue to evolve and grow in stature. For more information please visit the Adelaide Festival Centre website.
Tickets can be booked from the BASS website.