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Imparting a new meaning to Theyyam

Akhilesh at a performance

Twenty-year-old Akhilesh, who hails from a family of traditional Theyyam artistes, is engaged in an effort to give a new meaning to the age-old ritual art form: He would like to exploit its potential as a tool to spread messages of social import.

The art form normally performed in front of village shrines is now being performed before local people on stage — the only common link being the fact that it is being performed for the common man in an open space.

A student at the Government TTI at Velloor, Akhilesh, has already performed on more than 40 stages in and outside the State and is rearing to go abroad taking the spirit of the centuries’ old people’s art form.

He has used the art form to spread the message in the fight against plastic. As part of this effort, Akhilesh has used his knowledge in Theyyam to train teachers in making objects using ecofriendly materials such as tender coconut leaves, one of the raw materials for making the decorative costume for Theyyam.

He is also training teachers in creating ecofriendly teaching aids at the TTIs in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts.

Initiated into the tradition by his father, Akhilesh was trained under veteran Theyyam artist Aandi Panicker. Among the various Theyyams Akhilesh has performed are “Thee Chamundi” alias “Bhagavathy Theyyam”, “Rakthachamundi”, “Kuttichathan”, “Gulikan”, “Khandakarnan”, “Muchilottu Bagavathy” and “Kathirannur Weeran”.

However, his involvement with Theyyam has not deterred him from performing other traditional art forms. “It has only helped me in getting trained in other traditional art forms,” says Akhilesh.

He is adept in “naadan paattu”, “thottam pattu” and can also perform well on his chenda. The young Theyyam exponent is of the opinion that the ancient art form needs certain changes to bring it in tune with the times.

His main thrust is on the decorative costume, which according to him, are too heavy. Dress made of lighter materials would help in taking the art form to the masses and help bring about wider acceptance, he says.

George Jacob

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