Can This Gen Z Singaporean Keep Her Ancestral Tamil Art Form Alive? | On The Red Dot

At 24, Ava Kannan is determined to master Therukoothu, a centuries-old Tamil folk theatre tradition that combines storytelling, music and dance. But in Singapore, where opportunities to learn the art form are scarce and few masters remain to pass on their knowledge, keeping the tradition alive is an uphill battle. As Ava and her mother, Rani Kanna, prepare to stage a contemporary adaptation, experienced practitioners from India arrive to help guide the production. With just weeks to rehearse, Ava faces the pressure of mastering a demanding art form that takes years to perfect. Can she rise to the challenge and prove that Therukoothu still has a place in Singapore's performing arts scene? 00:00 Introduction 01:01 Bringing Therukoothu to the stage 03:19 How Ava discovered Therukoothu 06:44 Learning Therukoothu without a master 08:55 The masters arrive from India 13:02 Racing to get the word out 13:33 Can young performers master this art? 15:22 The art behind Therukoothu’s makeup 16:53 The last chance to perfect their craft 18:30 Time to prove themselves About the show: From circus artistry to Chinese stilt walking and traditional Tamil theatre, Last Act follows a new generation of performers breathing fresh life into Singapore’s traditional performing arts. WATCH MORE On The Red Dot: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkMf14VQEvTYbQaR9ddxnJmJRangPrY5f ========== About On The Red Dot: CNA's weekly programme documents the stories of ordinary Singaporeans and celebrates their resilience, identity and sense of belonging. =========== #CNAInsider #OnTheRedDot #Singapore #Singaporean #Tamil #PerformanceArt #PerformanceTroupe #Culture #Heritage For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER! https://cna.asia/insideryoutubesub Follow CNA INSIDER on: Telegram: https://t.me/CNAInsiderSG Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnainsider/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com