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In the throes of a painful dilemma

A conflict of emotions experienced by a ‘rakshasi’ — between affection for a sibling and desire for a handsome but unfriendly hero — forms the base of Sadanam Harikumaran’s new Kathakali play ‘Hidumbi,’ staged for the first time recently at the Chembai Memorial Government Music College in Palakkad.

Hidumba, a ‘rakshasa,’ orders his submissive sister Hidumbi to find humans for food since he is bored with animal flesh. Pandavas, with their mother Kunti, were in the same forest that time. Bheematoo is hunting for food. Hidumbi sees Bheema and is overcome with desire for him. She teases him assuming the shapes of many animals. Bheema sees through the trick and captures her. She makes amorous advances towards him and Bheema become romantically inclined. At this point an angry Hidumba chances upon them and fights Bheema, who overpowers him. Hidumba dies in the lap of his sister.

Hidumbi, torn between emotions of remorse and desire, collapses in the arms of Bheema after being beaten in a tussle with him. Vyasa, saintly grandfather of Bheema, appears with Kunti and asks him to marry Hidumbi and blesses the happy couple.

Altogether the presentation was attractive and a welcome change for the audience. “Such changes within the grammar of Kathakali will contribute greatly to enrichment of this art. Narippatta Narayanan Namboodiri as Hidumba, Kalanilayam Balakrishnan as Bheema and Sadanam Sreenath as Hidumbi gave excellent performances,” said P.K. Narayanan of the Trust.

G. Prabhakaran

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