A classic work
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The fifth edition of the epochal work of Desamangalathu Rama Varier, the text and interpretation of `Nalacharitam,' was released recently.
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PROGRAMMES HELD on the P.S.V. Natyasangham Day at Kottakal recently were essentially a celebration of Unnai Warrier's play `Nalacharitam.' A seminar and staging of `Nalacharitam First Day' by the PSV troupe apart, what made the occasion eventful was the release of the epochal work of Desamangalathu Rama Varier - the text and interpretation of `Nalacharitam.' Sridevi Varasyar, the nonagenarian widow of the author was present to receive the first copy from P.K.S. Raja, Zamorin of Kozhikode.
First edition
First published in 1945, the book was requisitioned by Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier, the founder of Arya Vaidyasala and P.S.V. Natyasangham to enable the Kathakali troupe to stage the play. The unique features of the book were an outcome of the deliberations the author had with Kuttikrishna Marar who was a regular visitor to Rama Varier's residence in Kozhikode those days. Rama Varier also held extensive discussions with the performing artistes of the Natyasangham. The resourcefulness of the author is further reflected in the novel interpretations and the text he composed.
There have been four editions of the book before, all published by Mathrubhoomi. It was Rama Varier's practice to work on the book every time it was published until his death in 1974. But the fourth edition appeared only in 1980. The preface for that edition was scripted by Sridevi Varasyar and her sons, P. Ramankutty Varier and P Sridhara Varier.
Separate titles
The separate titles, `Bhaimee Swayamvaram,' `Bhaimee Parithyagam,' `Kalisamanam' and `Bhaimee Samgamam' for the four days' plays, were ascribed only in this edition. The fifth edition released on Sunday was a re-publication of this edition by the Arya Vaidyasala.
P.S. Varier was a zealous promoter of classical arts and also a great theatre enthusiast. The Parama Siva Vilasam Natakakkampani founded by him in 1909 was a precursor to the Natyasangham that was formed only in 1939. More than 30 sangeetha-natakas staged by the troupe across the country over the three decades had earned it a substantial reputation. Sensing the dwindling popularity of the sangeetha-natakas, he converted the troupe into a Kathakali group.
Services of stalwarts
The Natyasangham is perhaps the only Kathakali training school that has received the services of all the stalwarts in the field right from Pattikamthodi Ravunni Menon. Among the talents it had groomed at the Natya Sanghom are Kottakkal Krishnankutty Nair and Kottakkal Sivaraman.
The participation of Krishnankutty Nair and Sivaraman in the seminar on Nalacharitam held earlier in the day attracted a large number of Kathakali enthusiasts. Kalamandalam Hyderali and Kottakal Narayanan were the other speakers.
Reflecting experience
Sivaraman's paper was a vehement expression of his experience on the stage. The maestro, who had immortalised Damayanthi by his inimitable artistry, spanning over five decades, argued that Unnai Varier's portrayal of the heroine had attained such sublime levels that the work could be aptly called `Damayanthicharitam.' Sivaraman deplored how the studies on Nalacharitam were usually academic exercises. He demands a separate yardstick to gauge the greatness of the play; different from the one used for other Kathakali plays.
Hyderali suggested solutions to a long array of improprieties involved in the staging of the play.
G.S. PAUL
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