One of the charms of Kolli Hills is traditional Malayali folk art. The Malayalis (literally, hill people) express their emotions as well as cultural diversity through their folk songs and dances.
Servai and Andipolam are two kinds of dances they perform mainly during Pongal. Besides they have songs and dances for child birth and marriages. Dancers travel from one village to the other, performing, only out of their love for the art.
With the influence of the movies and media, their folk art seems to be dying somewhat. The present generation find dressing up and dancing on the streets demeaning and old-fashioned. “We sing songs for our own community and our own people. The people in the plains don’t respect us,” smiles Periaswamy, an elder.
(Sriranjani is a student of Asian College of Journalism. She also did English Hons at Scottish Church College, Kolkata.)