Kerala - Thrissur   

‘UNESCO recognition a boost to Mudiyettu'

RITUALISTIC ART: A Mudiyettu performance.

Thrissur: The UNESCO recognition for Mudiyettu will give a much-needed boost to performers of this ritualistic dance drama, C.K. Thomas, coordinator of Natyavedi, has said.

Natyavedi had taken the initiative to get Mudiyettu placed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr. Thomas said the international recognition would open opportunities for scientific documentations and more research into the evolution of the age-old art which largely remained to the Bhadra Kali temples of Central Travancore.

Mr. Thomas, a theatre researcher, along with Meena Paul, senior research fellow in studies on Mudiyettu at the Union government's Department of Culture, had prepared the documents that were submitted to the UNESCO.

The Natyavedi had submitted a Rs. 1-crore, five-year project to UNESCO for the overall study and promotion of Mudiyettu, said Mr. Thomas, who is the director of Doordarsan Kendra, Thissur.

“Mudiyettu is a complete ritual theatre that involves music, dance and rituals, evolved at Kali temples on the shores of Chalakkury and Muvattupuzha rivers. Performed in open theatres, it fosters social harmony among different castes and communities, ” Mr. Thomas noted.

“While UNESCO receives hundreds of applications from counties like China and Japan, India which can boast of much richer cultural heritage, sends very few,” he said.

Addressing the press conference, Keezhillam Unnikrishnan, a Mudiyettu performer, said that the new status would help the art to get an international audience.

He said the young generation evinced not much interest in the ritualistic art. The UNESCO recognition would help change this situation.

Mudiyettu is the second Kerala art form being included in the UN list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; the first was “Koodiyaattam”.

‘Sree Bhadra Mudiyettu Sangam' and ‘Kizhakke Varanattu Mudiyettu Kalasangam' of Thrissur district and ‘Pazhur Dhamodhara Marar Smaraka Gurukulam' and ‘Sankarankutty Marar Mudiyettu Sangam' of Ernakulam district are the major Mudiyettu performing samithies.

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