Helping hand to Kathakali
Vinu Vasudevan
|
Thripunithura Kathakali Club is at the forefront of efforts to promote the art form.
|
Dance drama: Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharadi as Ravana.
Thripunithara Kathakali club, one of the oldest among the Kathakali clubs in Kerala, celebrated its 33rd anniversary last week. The club, which was founded in 1972, to promote Kathakali as an art form, has made valuable contributions in the field. It has also helped the only women's Kathakali troupe that is based there.
Encouraging young artistes
The annual T.V. Kochaniyan award, constituted in memory of the former chairman of the Kerala Kalamandalam, is given to an artiste below 40. This year's T.V. Kochaniyan Memorial Golden Medal was awarded to Kalamandalam Sasi. Young artistes such as Kalamandalam Krishnakumar, Margi Krishnadas, Kottakkal Madhu, Kalamandalam Babu Namboothiri and Kalanilayam Raji are among the recipients of the award. Kalamandalam Sasi, a madhalam artiste, received the award at a simple function held at N.S.S. Hall, Thripunithara. A former student of the Kerala Kalamandalam, Sasi now teaches there.
The award function was followed by an all-night Kathakali performance.
`Nalacharitham Naalam Divasam' was the first play to be performed. Gopi and Sivaraman who have been performing as Bahuka and Damayanthi for the last 40 years enthralled the audience with their artistry. Gopiyasan's bhavabhinaya is a testimony to his skill as a veteran performer and teacher. Kottakkal Sivaraman who captivated the audience in the first session, was disappointing in the second session.
The highlight of the show was a recital by FACT Padmanabhan of Kesini. Although he made his reputation by enacting female characters, he, later, switched to male characters. Gopi, Sivaraman and Padmanabhan took the viewers back to the golden days when a performance by this trio was a viewers' delight. Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharadi portrayed Ravana in `Balivadhom.' Veteran thadi artist Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboothiri enacted the role of Bali with characteristic ease. Pariyanampatta Divakaran essayed the role of Sugreeva. Kottakkal Narayanan rendered the lyrics. He successfully maintained the purity of the music without straying into the realms of Carnatic music.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
