I'm Harikrishnan from Salem. I'm an electrician by profession. I come from a family of 'koothadis'. My father gave up because street artists do not make much money but I'm very passionate about the traditional arts. Today, despite all commercialisations, traditional arts such as string puppetry, leather shadow puppetry, and therkoothu survive mainly because of the people in the village. Yet, these artists are in abject poverty.

I started 'Kalari Heritage and Charitable Trust' through which I'm striving to preserve these ancient art forms in Kongu region and to end the economic uncertainty the performers face today.

I also attempt to take the ancient arts to the next generation through proper training for freshers. Trust runs a school, “Kalari koothupalli”, in Erwadi village in Salem district to teach koothu. A few poor students have joined it. There are also woman artists.

I also help the traditional artists get benefits from government and organizes shows in educational institutions. This will not only ensure a steady income for them but also make the younger generation aware of these art forms.

Through this school, we have staged performances in Chennai, Delhi, and Guwahati. I have documents the lives of 11 prominent Koothadis in my book.It is a collection of dialogue I had with the artists.

Now I appeal to you to help me run this school. As an electrician, I cannot shoulder the responsibility all alone. All the funds will be utilized to run the school, thereby improving the economic conditions of the artists.