Kerala - Kochi   

An `arangettam' worth noticing

The biggest need for a classical art form like Koodiyattom is the emergence of new artistes who take the art form seriously. Even though any number of students comes out of the institutions like Kerala Kalamandalam every year, the number of young artistes who show readiness to devote themselves to the art form is not showing any proportionate increase.

In this scenario, the `arangettam' of young artistes who find time to learn in between their classes and examinations is quite heartening.

Vishnu Prasad who performed his arangettam at Moozhikkulam Lakshmana Temple recently is such an artiste.

Vishnu, a class VII student at St. Mary's High School, Poovathussery, had been studying Koodiyattom under Guru Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar and Margi Madhu for the past three years. The arangettam was held keeping to the tradition. The performer presented the role of Suthradhara in Bhasa's play Balacharitham, which is the chosen part for all arangettams.

The first day's performance included all the technical and ritual elements of Koodiyattom such as `Thevaram,' `Maravil Kriya,' `Nithya Kriya' and `Keshadipadam', among others.

On the second day, he presented the `Nirvahanam' (introductory portion) in which Hiranyakasipu receives blessings from Brahma.

Vishnu is a IV standard student at Nepathya, Moozhikkulam, run by the well-known Koodiyattom artiste Margi Madhu and his wife Indu G., a Nangiarkoothu and Koodiyattom artiste.

Three students of Nepathya performed their arangettams so far, with two in the `Purusha Vesham' of Koodiyattom and one in mizhavu, percussion instrument.

Hailing from Moozhikkulam, Vishnu is the son of edakka and chenda artiste Radhakrishna Poduval and Girija.

His performance was given accompaniment in mizhavu by Kalamandalam Ratheesh Bhas, Kalamandalam Anoop and Nepathya Jinesh, on edakka by Radhakrishna Poduval and on thalam by Indu G.

Renu Ramanath

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