Kerala   

Expressions unlimited

Work of art: Rajan Karimoola with Kathakali artiste Kottakkal Sivaraman’s photos at an exhibition in Kozhikode.

The sharp, fleeting expressions of one of Kerala’s living legends in Kathakali, Kottakkal Sivaraman, have been brilliantly captured in an exhibition of snapshots organised at the Town Hall in Kozhikode.

The show, jointly organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations and the Calicut Press Club, is a deserving tribute to one of the most celebrated faces of Kerala’s own classical art form.

The fetching stills are from the collection of news photographer Rajan Karimoola, who says that the photographs are a result of his close relationship with the artiste for five years.

Sivaraman has immortalised several female roles in renowned ‘attakkadhas’ like ‘Nalacharitham,’ ‘Poothanamoksham’ and ‘Rugmangacharitham.’ His rendering of roles such as ‘Damayanti,’ ‘Poothana,’ and ‘Mohini’ has won him international acclaim. All of them find a place in the show.

Rajan feels that such an effort would not have been possible had he not developed a warm relationship with the artiste.

“My success was that, in the process, not even once did I make him feel that a camera was keeping track of him,” says Rajan, who followed the artiste from stage to stage for years.

Connoisseurs know that there is not much scope for variety in ‘minukku vesham’ or female roles in Kathakali. But the photographs on display at the exhibition prove that commitment of a photographer to an art and to a great artiste can yield rousing results despite these limitations.

Sivaraman is one of the most revered figures among Kathakali doyens, along with Kalamandalam Gopi.

He is also an international figure in the performing art circle, covering more than 3,000 stages, spreading across 50 countries. He has performed ‘Damayanthi’ role around 2,000 times.

The 60-odd snaps displayed at the hall have some stunning frames of the artiste on and off stage.

His warm relationship with his renowned on-stage partner, Kalamandalam Gopi, who has donned most of the celebrated male roles, is also represented.

Moments from his personal life too have been captured.

In essence, it is a complete portrait of a revered artiste.

Jabir Mushthari

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Sweet news for sugarcane farmers of Marayur
Unfamiliar views of the ‘dreamland’
Police being used to put down dissent: UDF
Aviation fuel tax to be retained at 25%
Dismissal of student upheld
Expressions unlimited
School notes
Campus Notes
At Sabarimala today
Inter-State gang arrested
People’s campaign
River at stake
Proud moment
Kochi still hogs the limelight
Interest-free loan scheme to be inaugurated by VS
Sudhakaran slams religious heads
Air passenger detained
Elephants feast on delicacies at ‘anayoottu’ in Thrissur
Student dies in classroom
Election of Kollam Deputy Mayor to be held today
‘Kalari’ massage, a popular healing method
CPWD zone likely
Hillock gets a facelift, panchayat takes the initiative
Student council of Navy School sworn in School Notes

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu