Kerala - Kochi   

Recreating Draupadi's saga

Work draws inspiration from unexplored areas of classical Sanskrit theatre

These days, Koodiyattom artistes are presenting a good number of innovative works.

They are opening up hitherto unexplored areas of the classical Sanskrit theatre form and do not want to be confined to age-old creations.

The choreography of the story of Draupadi by Usha Nangiar, Koodiyattom and Nangiarkoothu artiste, had got critical acclaim.

The story of the wife of the five Pandava princes had not been told in Koodiyattom so far.

Usha Nangiar had choreographed the play, drawing upon classical Sanskrit plays.

The play Venisamharam by Bhattanarayanan portrays the character of Draupadi in detail. Usha Nangiar has taken Act 1 from this play for evolving this performance.

Composed as a Nangiarkoothu performance for three days, it delineates Draupadi's saga from her wedding to the princes, the insults she had to face from the Kauravas and the completion of her revenge.

Draupadi, a production of Chathakkudam Krishnan Nambiar, Mizhavu Kalari, Chathakkudam, Thrissur district, will be presented at Kalikotta Palace in a three-day performance from Sunday.

The event is being organised by the International Centre for Koodiyattom, Thripunithura.

Usha Nangiar will be accompanied by V.K.K. Hariharan on the mizhavu.

The performance will be preceded by the release of a book, Laghusamskritham, written by K.G. Paulose, former Registrar of the Sree Sankara University of Sanskrit, Kalady. The book, to help the common man learn the rudiments of Sanskrit, will be released by the literary critic Sukumar Azhikode, who will deliver a lecture on Indian culture.

Dr. Paulose will give an introduction to the performance.

The first part, Swayamvaram, will be performed on Sunday, followed by Vasthrakshepam on Monday and Prathikaram on Tuesday.

Renu Ramanath

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