Aravinth Kumarasamy

Aravinth Kumarasamy (b. 1966), a multi-talented artist, is a prominent figure in the international Indian arts community, working in Indian dance, music, and other related fields. Arriving in Singapore as a young man, he received the Cultural Medallion, Singapore's highest arts and literature award, in 2022 in recognition of his 35 years of artistic work. Born in Sri Lanka, Aravinth trained under some of the most renowned teachers of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music in Sri Lanka and India. He made his debut at the age of 18 and moved to Singapore three years later, in 1987. Continuing to develop his skills in classical dance and music, he studied acting and stage performance at the Temple of Fine Arts from 1987 to 1993. Later, he taught dance at Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society and worked as a music composer for their productions at Bhaskar's Arts Academy. 

Aravinth joined Apsaras Arts in 1999 and has contributed to various departments of the company. He worked as a dance and music instructor and artistic director alongside its founder, Neila Sathyalingam. Under his leadership, Apsaras Arts created over 35 productions, including 'Ankor Wat: The Untold Story,' 'Agathi,' 'Parama Padam,' and 'Rice'. Since the demise of Neila Sathyalingam, Aravinth has been leading the company. He is involved not only in story, dance, and music but also in various other aspects such as lighting, sound system, costume, and stage design. Aravinth, who has been contributing to the development of Singapore's arts in various ways, trained the Raffles Girls' School Indian Orchestra from 1995 to 2000. He founded the Kolam Ayer Indian Youth Orchestra in 2000. Additionally, he has provided music and dance training to students during National Day celebrations and Chingay parades.

Aravinth has been organising the Indian Performing Arts Convention in Singapore since 2012 and in Australia since 2021. He strives to give a unique identity to traditional arts in Singapore by pioneering electronic and technological innovations and embarking on experimental initiatives. For example, during the Covid pandemic, Aravinth directed a couple of dance films, 'Sita' and 'Amara', based on digital and computer-generated imagery. Prior to receiving the Cultural Medallion, he was awarded the Young Artist Award by the government in 1999.

For more information
Lim How Ngean. Cultural Medallion 2022: Aravinth Kumarasamy. National Arts Council, 2022. https://www.nac.gov.sg/docs/default-source/singapore-arts-scene-files/cultural-medallion/2022/cm-aravinth-kumarasamy.pdf?sfvrsn=6a7253bc_4

தமிழில் வாசிக்க 

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