With Murali at Koothapalam launch

The above pictures were taken in March 2002 when Malayalam film actor Murali, a thespian of theatre and national film award winner for best actor, announced the launching of his venture Koothampalam in Dubai offering training in performing arts and in acting for the big screen and television as well as television show presentation. Others in the picture include KPK Vengara, a veteran drama artist, writer and radio programmer in the UAE, and officials of Koothampalam.

KOOTHAMPALAM, a school of performing arts, will be launched on March 11, with training courses in various aspects of production of drama, television shows and films starting immediately.
Koothampalam, which translates as "a forum for performing arts," is the creation of Bharath Murali, one of the best known actors in southern India today.
Murali, who is based in Trivandrum, will shuttle between the UAE and Kerala to personally supervise the training courses to be offered at the institution's premises in Qusais.
Noted figures from the Kerala film and television industry as well as the theatre movement will be regularly visiting the institutions, where skilled professionals in various aspects of drama, television and film production will coach the students.
Admission is under way for students from the age of seven for courses in acting, direction, production, stage settings, accostics and special effects among others. A special course is offered for those who want to be trained in televison presentation, including news reading and hosting of talk shows.
"Kootathampalam is the realisation of an idea that took birth during a theatre camp that I attended in Sharjah more than two years ago," said Murali, who entered the film industry with a rich experience from the drama movement.
The Sharjah camp was attended by dozens of students during school vacation and proved to be a big hit since it was the first such event organised in the UAE, and that too by a thespian like Murali.
The camp was supported by drama enthusiasts not only from the Keralite community but also from UAE nationals, including Fareed Al Ajami.
Murali, winner of the national award for the best actor, announced in December that he was launching Koothamapalam, the first such venture not only in the UAE but in the Gulf,
Murali, a member of the faculty of arts of Kerala University, said he hoped that the courses offered at Koothamapalm would eventually secure recogntion by the Kerala University.
Koothhamapalam classes will be conducted in Qusais. Transport is available for students.
"We have limited seats and we are adopting a first-come-first-serve policy for registration," said Rajesh, co-ordinator of Koothhampalam.
For more details please call: 04 227-3153

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