Mr. Raja Segar is the Editor of Tamil Murasu, Singapore’s only Tamil-language newspaper under SPH Media Trust, where he oversees its print and digital platforms. His team also produces Tabla, Balar Murasu, and Manavar Murasu. Prior to this, he was CEO of the Hindu Endowments Board, managing operations across four temples.
He also held leadership roles at the Singapore Institute of Technology (Director of Strategic Planning), SINDA (CEO), and Mediacorp Vasantham (AVP). A trained educator, Mr. Segar previously taught Economics and Finance in both public and private institutions.
Japhire Gopi Kannan
Project Advisor
Mr. Japhire Gopi Kannan is the Founder of Anandha Traditional Arts & Music Ltd (ATAM) and the Anandha Kondaattam – Singapore Indian Traditional Folk Arts Festival. Inspired by his father, CPT (RET) M Govindaraju, and his late brother, Anandha Kannan, he has led impactful productions including AK50 (2023) and Anandha Kondaattam 2024 at Esplanade. He also served as Executive Producer of Anandha Koothu, Singapore’s first Tamil webisode series for preschoolers, endorsed by LKYFB.
Beyond the arts, Japhire is a serial entrepreneur and innovator in the insurance technology space, founding platforms like DoctorShield, HaxSafe, Tate & Livingston, and Jaguar Transit. A Lloyd’s Coverholder, his work has been recognized among Asia’s Top Innovators by Insurance Business Asia and InsurTech Connect’s Forward50 APAC.
Bhavani Selva Kumar
Project Advisor
Ms Bhavani Selva Kumar is currently Deputy Director of Partnerships & Programmes at the Founders’ Memorial, where she leads initiatives to engage communities through meaningful national storytelling. Formerly the General Manager of the Indian Heritage Centre (IHC), she was widely recognised for her contributions to preserving and promoting Indian heritage in Little India and across Singapore. Prior to that, she served over 20 years in education—as a Tamil Language teacher, Head of Department for ICT, and later as Assistant Director at MOE's Mother Tongue Languages Branch.
She was also the Head Secretariat of the Tamil Language Learning and Promotion Committee and remains an active committee member. Ms Bhavani currently serves on various national panels, including the National Translation Committee – Tamil Resource Panel, the People’s Association Indian Culture & Language Advisory Panel, and Greendale Primary School’s Advisory Committee. In 2023, she was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) and the National Day Long Service Award.
Subbu Adaikalavan
Producer
Subbu is a Business Development Professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from NTU and a background in IT and Automation. He was President of the NTU Tamil Literary Society, and Director of the stage student-led NTU production Uthraa 2018. He also served as Vice-President of the Tamils Representative Council – Youth Wing and managed major events including Anandha Kondaattam 2024.
A former stage actor and Mediacorp Oli 968 radio DJ, he has received the TamilChudar Young Achiever Award and the Mahakavi Bharathiyar Award for his contributions to the Tamil community in various capacities.
K.Jayaprema
Production Manager
K. Jayaprema is the Artistic Director and founder of Rhythms Aesthetic Society, established in 2005 to champion the preservation and evolution of Indian classical arts and cultural heritage. A visionary in the field, she has conceptualised, directed, and managed numerous productions that delve into themes of identity, devotion, and tradition.
Her acclaimed works include Krishna Guruvayurappan – His Mystical Journey, staged internationally in Singapore, India, and Malaysia, and The Splendour of Peranakan Indian Weddings, a vibrant musical most recently presented at the Indian Heritage Centre. She also helmed Life is a Spice, a joyful celebration of multiculturalism and community spirit. This production showcases Singapore’s rich cultural tapestry through music, dance, and storytelling—highlighting the power of the arts to unite diverse communities.
In addition to her creative direction, Jayaprema brings extensive expertise as a Production Manager, overseeing all aspects of stagecraft from concept development to execution. Her hands-on leadership ensures each production upholds high standards of artistry and professionalism.
Respected as a cultural advocate, she is regularly invited to share her insights on heritage, arts education, and intergenerational learning. Through Rhythms Aesthetic Society, she continues to mentor aspiring artistes and provide them with platforms to perform, grow, and connect with their roots.
Her productions are more than performances—they are immersive experiences that honour tradition, celebrate cultural diversity, and build bridges between generations through the transformative power of the arts.
Karthikeyan Somasundaram
Creative Director
Karthikeyan Somasundaram graduated with First Class Honours in Acting from LASALLE College of the Arts in 2019. He is an actor, host, scriptwriter, and director. He has starred in drama series such as Annamalai and Bandham, earning Best Actor awards at Pradhana Vizha. In 2025, he was honoured with the All-Time Favourite Artiste award at the same ceremony.
As a theatre practitioner, Karthikeyan has written and directed productions, including Animal Farm, Re Somma, and Adukku Vettu Annasamy 2. He also wrote, directed, and performed in Pachae Bungalaa Rettae Kolaedaa, which was nominated for Best Director and Best Set Design, and won Best Ensemble Cast at the ST Life! Theatre Awards 2025.
Apart from theatre, he has directed several MediaCorp television series such as the telemovie Deepavali Parisu, Vanakkam Singai and Uncle Taxi Engae Poguthu. He has also written for award winning television series such as CID Sakoonthala, Oru Naal Koothu, and Parambarai. He received the Best Scriptwriter Award in Pradhana Vizha 2021.
Karthikeyan is the founder of Dreamcatcher Pte Ltd, a production house dedicated to creating television series across a wide range of genres. Following the success of the inaugural Anandha Kondattam Festival in 2024, he returns this year to helm and direct the event.
Paul Jacob
Music Director
Paul Jacob is one of Chennai’s finest and most versatile musicians, known for his genre-defying artistry and global collaborations. Starting his musical journey at the age of 12 as a bass guitarist in his school band, Paul quickly ascended through Chennai’s vibrant rock scene, eventually becoming a member of the legendary band Nemesis Avenue, which featured none other than Oscar-winning composer A. R. Rahman.
In parallel with his work in rock and advertising music, Paul deepened his understanding of Indian classical traditions, studying Carnatic music under Grammy Award winner Shri Vikku Vinayakram and Shri Ravikiran. His passion for Indian folk and classical idioms led to the founding of Bodhi Music, a pioneering platform that brought together traditional and contemporary music. Through Bodhi Music, Paul collaborated with world-renowned artists and producers including Thione Seck (Senegal), Francois Breant (France), Susheela Raman (UK), Oikyotaan (India), Yogeswaran Manickam (UK), Laya Project (Israel), and the Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra.
His score for The Square Circle, a documentary by Timeri Murari, earned the Best Documentary Music Award at the Cannes Festival in 1998. Beyond recording and composition, Paul has played a crucial role in shaping India’s live music landscape, producing major festivals such as The Laya Project Live and Chennai Sangamam, which featured over 2,500 artists from across India.
In 2024, Paul Jacob brought his distinctive sound and vision to Anandha Kondaattam at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Singapore, serving as Music Director. His direction helped fuse traditional Indian folk artistry with contemporary stagecraft, creating a high-energy, cross-cultural celebration of Indian heritage on an international platform.
Sreedevy Sivarajasingam
Dance Director
Ms. Sreedevy, a recipient of LISHA’s 50 Most Inspiring Ladies Award, is a well-known dancer and choreographer in Singapore. Trained in Bharathanatyam at the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society, she is one of the founding members of Omkar Arts, established in 1987. She has performed extensively on television and at various arts and dance festivals across Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Australia, and India. Her expertise extendsto choreography, where she has contributed to school productions, Esplanade Theatres, National Heritage Board, Community Centres, Temples and Tamil media in Singapore.
Beyond performance and choreography, Sreedevy runs non- profit Arts organisation Omkar Arts which is a dance school and company with over 150 students and performers. In 2024, she choreographed for the Chingay Festival and actively participated in the ATAM initiative, which aims to train and promote traditional folk arts in Singapore.
Sreedevy holds a Master’s in Communication Studies from Nanyang Technological University and made the bold decision to leave her corporate career to pursue her passion for the arts. She continues her learning journey by undergoing advanced training with Kalakshetra alumni. In 2024, she completed a certification course in Teacher’s Training with Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University.
R Venga
Stage Director
R. Venga is a visionary producer and creative leader with over 35 years of distinguished experience in Singapore’s entertainment industry. As the founder of Violet Tales Pte Ltd, he has been at the forefront of developing high-quality, culturally resonant content for local audiences. Commissioned by Mediacorp, Violet Tales has become one of Singapore’s most respected production houses, producing compelling dramas, variety shows, game shows, live broadcasts, and infotainment programs for Vasantham and Suria.
Under Venga’s expert direction, the company has earned 16 prestigious Pradhana Vizha awards, a testament to its excellence in content creation and storytelling. Known for his sharp production instincts, innovative concepts, and dedication to elevating the Tamil media scene, Venga has also been a passionate mentor, nurturing fresh talent and providing them with platforms to thrive.
Violet Tales’ notable productions include Yaar, Tuah 13, Unnal Mudiyum, Vanakkam Singai, Vivegam, Skoop!, Thillana Thillana, Thayangaathey, Maiyam, Ms V Supreme, Thiruvaai Malarvai, and TLF. Through his work, Venga continues to inspire a new era of creativity while strengthening the presence and quality of local content in Singapore’s multicultural media landscape.
Lionell Heeran
Assistant Production Manager
Lionell Heeran is a dynamic Business Development Manager and social media marketer with nearly 10 years of experience in events management, passionately dedicated to promoting Indian traditional arts. ‍ A skilled parai and thudumbu performer, he also mentors youth in these percussion traditions. Heeran’s artistic contributions span across stage direction, photography, production management, and acting—making him a versatile cultural advocate. Through his creative leadership, he continues to preserve and elevate Indian heritage with lasting impact.
Logeshwari Durairaj
Assistant Production Manager
Logeshwari Durairaj (Eshwari) is a seasoned Bharathanatyam dancer with over 25 years of experience, trained under Guru Dr. Sree Ajith Baskaran Dass. Deeply passionate about traditional Indian performing arts, she expanded her repertoire through folk forms like Karagam, Parai, and Therukoothu, mentored by the late Anandha Kannan.
Founder of Veeramangai Arts Group, Eshwari champions female-led percussion and teaches various folk traditions, while also contributing behind the scenes in production and stage management. Her work reflects a strong commitment to preserving and evolving Indian folk and classical arts.
Subbiah Saravanan Kasi
Assistant Production Manager
Subbiah Saravanan is a passionate cultural advocate rooted in community service and heritage preservation. While not professionally trained in the arts, his deep commitment lies in creating meaningful spaces where tradition, community and creativity can thrive.
Saravanan actively contributes to cultural and grassroots initiatives, notably with Sri Muneeswaran Temple, where he supports temple arts and cultural programs, and within the Queenstown community, working closely on local events that foster multiracial understanding and youth engagement.
He believes that traditional art is not just performance, but a living, breathing expression of the people and works tirelessly to bring this belief into action through his voluntary and leadership roles. Professionally, he works in the engineering and metrology field, where he applies the same focus and attention to detail that he brings to his community work.
Bhagavathi
Costumes and Make-up Lead
M. Bhagavathi is a dedicated professional with strong experience in customer service, administration, and animal care, having worked with leading organizations like Adidas, Sephora, GlaxoSmithKline, and SingHealth.
Currently pursuing a Bachelor in Molecular Biology & Applied Chemistry at La Trobe University, she combines her scientific knowledge with hands-on care, especially through her work with dogs at pet care facilities.
Recognized with awards such as the Eagles Award, Bhagavathi is known for her reliability, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence across diverse fields.
Vishnu Vardni
Digital Publications Lead
Vishnu Vardni is an undergraduate in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and a scholar with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). Since 2022, she has been a journalist with Tamil Murasu, reporting on stories that intersect community, culture, and policy.
Deeply involved in the Tamil literary and cultural scene, she is a member of the Tamil Language Council, Tamil Pattimandra Kalai Kazhagam, and Poetry Festival Singapore. She previously served as President of Kavimaalai Singapore’s Youth Wing, where she championed youth engagement in Tamil arts and literature.
As part of the NUS Tamil Language Society, she led the academic research team for the Singapore Tamil Youth Conference 2024, contributing to thought leadership within the Tamil-speaking youth community.
In Collaboration with Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
A vibrant celebration of Indian Traditional Folk Arts 2025!
Anandha Kondaattam 2025 – Singapore Indian Traditional Folk Arts Festival was an unforgettable celebration! 🎉
Behind the scenes, 265 passionate artistes, crew, and volunteers powered the festival, while 27 arts groups showcased 20 unique traditional art forms. With 80% youth involvement and the support of 20 amazing community partners, we welcomed a vibrant crowd of 13,500 over two magical nights at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre at Esplanade.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the National Heritage Board, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), and National Arts Council Singapore for championing our cause. Heartfelt thanks go to all our donors, sponsors, and community partners who made this possible. Special appreciation to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Minister of State Dinesh Vasu Dash for gracing the festival and inspiring our journey of connecting communities through traditional folk arts.
The past 10 months united our community in a vibrant celebration of movement, memory, and multicultural connection. The energy, joy, and camaraderie created memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
ATAM remains committed and passionate about integrating communities and uplifting our traditional folk arts. Here’s to many more unforgettable celebrations ahead!
Our team is a dynamic group of experienced individuals who have come together to volunteer and make a difference. United by a shared passion for traditional folk arts and culture, we are dedicated to promoting and preserving our rich heritage. Each member brings unique skills and enthusiasm to our mission, ensuring that our cultural legacy continues to thrive.
