‘Gen Z Grooves’ launched to train young percussionists

Noted tabla artiste Umesh Moghe launched ‘Gen Z Grooves’, a State-level workshop series for training young percussionists, at Pookkad Kalalayam near Koyilandy in Kozhikode district on Monday (December 22, 2025). Nearly 30 learners from different parts of the State turned up for the workshop.

Opening the sessions, Mr. Moghe said artistes should be considered and treated like soldiers for their selfless role in safeguarding the tradition of music and culture. “We should honour the tradition first even while valuing the services of artistes,” he observed.

Emerging percussionist Arjun Kaliprasad, who conceived the ‘Gen Z Grooves’ project, introduced its features and objectives to the audience. He said the project was designed with a mission to pick talented young percussionists from all the 14 districts and offer them district-level training under the leadership of eminent artistes.

He said the workshop series, formally launched in Kozhikode, would continue in other districts and conclude in Thiruvananthapuram in December 2026. The trained students would be given all assistance in the future to connect with celebrated artistes and to know more about various scholarship programmes.

After the inaugural session, Mr. Moghe was also honoured with a ‘ponnada’ in the presence of veteran tabla artiste Sivadas Chemanchery. Pookkad Kalalayam president K.T. Sreenivasan, former president V.K. Raghavan, tabla artiste Sumith Naik, and senior tabla trainers were present.