The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Classical art forms gain upper hand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 23, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Classical art forms gain upper hand

Staff Reporter

Kochi: It was a day of classical art forms at the State School Kalotsavam on Sunday. Thayambaka, kathakali and kudiyattam competitions were held on Sunday. Kathakali and kudiyattam began hours behind schedule.

Participants at the thayambaka competition generally maintained a good standard, judges said. They pointed out that the participants either maintained very high standards or were found wanting much in standards. Generally, all the participants followed the north Kerala style of thayambaka. The first prize was won by K.Ajith, a student of GV HSS, Koppam, Palakkad. Starting in pathi thalam, Ajith played all five koorus, which is not too common.

He went through the various stages of the thayambaka, including the panchari, chambakkooru, edavattam, edanila and irikita with ease.

Son of Mulayankavu Aravindakshan, himself a percussion artiste, Ajith had been studying thayambaka for nine years.

He started learning at the age of five years from his father and performed his arangettam at the age of seven years.

He also used to go regularly for professional performances and festivals with his father. Last year, Ajith won the third place in thayambaka.

The judges for thayambaka, included Mattannur Sankarankutti, Kalamandalam Kesavan, Manoj Kuroor, Mankulam Krishnan Namboodiri and Ayaamkudi Kuttappa Marar.

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