S. Singarayer pursues two professions which share an essential feature, both rely on sharp timing; and in almost every other respect, they are galaxies apart. He has become a past master at switching between these diverse skillsets, one requiring him to click the camera button, and the other flick the Silambam stick.

A freelance events photographer, Singarayer had settled into a comfort zone, the photography assignments and payments steady and regular enough for him to want to break out of it and explore new ground. But here he is, teaching two batches of Silambam enthusiasts, one class being conducted in Villivakkam and the other at RBI Quarters in Kilpauk, And so, what got 49-year-old Singarayer here?

Before that question is answered, a quick bio of a younger Singarayer.

He entered the world letting out a shrill cry in Thiruvarur, where he grew up, along the way getting introduced to Silambam at school. He would go on to earn a B.Com degree at an arts college in Kumbakonam, and also qualify in printing technology, a course that helped him develop design skills. Career aspirations brought him to Chennai in 2000, and photography was nowhere in sight in those early years, but computers were. He had worked as a systems services technician at Ritchie Street off Mount Road for around three years when his primary calling came into sharp focus. A career in photography began, one that continues to this day. He worked at the Konica outlet at Wallajah Road in Chepauk for 15 years, primarily working with photography software, framing pictures, restoring old photos and creating albums. And then he decided to strike out on his own, camera in hand: a long run as events photographer began.

Answering the question, he managed to circle back to his childhood passion, Silambam, through his daughter S.S. Sharoni. While accompanying Sharoni to Silambam classes, Singarayer would watch the training sessions from the sidelines. Gradually, he began brushing up on his old skills wielding the Silambam staff.

K. Shankar (aged 53), the Silambam master coaching Sharoni became coach to Singarayer too. An MTC bus driver having found a space to practise Silambam in his leisure time, Shankar was at the same wavelength as Singarayer. Having noticed Singarayer’s command over the Silambam staff, he encouraged him to pursue the martial art seriously.

The encouragement went further. Impressed by Singarayer’s handling of Silambam techniques, the master eventually entrusted him with a batch of students of his own.

For the last three years, Singarayer has been conducting Silambam classes regularly. Assisting him in training sessions is Sharoni herself, now 14 years old and studying in Class IX. She has already won several medals at district-level competitions.

Singarayer offers Silambam coaching at a nominal fee of ₹500 per month; and to those who cannot afford that, he offers it free.

Determined to deepen his understanding of the martial art, Singarayer recently completed a one-year certification course in Silambam offered by the Tamil Nadu Government’s Department of Art and Culture at the Government College of Fine Arts in Egmore.

For details, call Rajammal Silambam Boxing Sports Academy at 9841887183

Learn folk arts

Government College Of Fine Arts in Egmore offers four courses in folk arts, silambam being one. These are not regular programme but conducted during the weekend and come under the initiate of the Folk Art Centre, an initiative being promoted by the government in select colleges in the state.

Each college offers some folk art like thappattam, paraiattam and karagattam, largely based on the kind of enquiries they get.

According to the principal, there is no age criteria to enrol in these programmes and the idea is to give people an opportunity to pursue their hobbies.

For details, call 044 - 25610878