Kozhikode: Harikuttan is busy encouraging his students before they get on stage for the Chenda Melam competition. This 21-year-old artist has come with a team of Chenda artists from Brahmanandodayam HSS, Kalady in Ernakulam.

Interestingly, one of the team members, Abhiram, is Harikuttan's brother.

Harikuttan has been learning Chenda for the past 10 years. "I have participated in the State School Kalolsavam five times," he said.

Talking about his students at the Kalolsavam, Harikuttan said most of them have performed on various stages and did not have much tension, even though it was their first time at the state level.

"The students were made to perform at various stages so that they would not be nervous on the State Kalolsavam stage," he said.

Currently, Harikuttan is teaching five students at his house. The Kalady native, who recently completed his graduation, works at Puthiyedam temple under the Cochin Devaswom Board.

Hari's mother Sreelekha said his older brother Adarsh also plays Chenda and has participated in the State Kalolsavam. Many of our family members are traditional Chenda artists, said Sreelekha.

Apart from Melam and Thayambaka, Harikuttan has also taken part in Panchavadyam at State School Kalolsavams. "His team had secured first place in Panchavadyam at the State Kalolsavam once," she added.

Sreelekha says the family is in full support of the brothers continuing in the profession.