Uṟumi Mēḷam: a musical sanctuary for at-risk Tamil youth in Singapore

Abstract

This article investigates why uṟumi mēḷams are successful in empowering Singaporean Tamil Hindu youths and keeping them away from gangs and crime. Drawing on oral history resources, historical newspaper articles, and ethnographic data from field research conducted in Singapore, Malaysia, and Tamil Nadu (South India), I explore the chain of events and official narratives that associated uṟumi mēḷams with moral panic, before then considering how musicking in an uṟumi mēḷam appeals to Singaporean Tamil Hindu youths. Finally, the article examines approaches adopted by uṟumi mēḷam to engage their young artists so that they feel purposeful and accepted by the group. Building on music and youth empowerment discourse, I argue that uṟumi mēḷam has an enormous potential as an activity to engage and empower at-risk Tamil youths.