Remembering the masters
VINU VASUDEVAN
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A three-day festival was organised to commemorate Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair's 15th death anniversary
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Photo: S. Mahinsha
RARE PERFORMANCE: Nalacharitam Naalaam Divasam.
Tributes were paid to the legendary Kathakali actor, Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, on his 15th death anniversary.
Margi conducted a three-day Kathakali performance to pay homage to the thespian who spent the last years of his career in Margi in Thiruvananthapuram. Veterans of Koodiyattom such as Padmashree Mani Madhava Chakiyar, Painkulam Rama Chakiyar and Kathakali guru Mankulam Vishnu Namboodiri also paid their tributes to the guru.
Actor par excellence
Krishnan Nair was born at Payannur in 1914. He was 13 when he began training in Kathakali under Chanthu Pannikker of Varanakkottu Mana.
On realising Krishnan's potential, Mahakavi Vallathol took him to Kerala Kalamandalam, where Pattikkanthodi Ramunni Menon trained him in Kathakali.
Krishnan Nair was considered the driving force behind popularising the art form.
The ease with which he performed characters, including female roles, made him the embodiment of Kathakali.
As part of the Kathakali festival, Kottayathu Thampuran's `Kirmeravadhom' was staged on the first day. The second part of `Nalacharitam Naalaam Divasam,' a part that is not often staged these days, was enacted on the second day and Margi Sukumaran's performance of `Poothanamoksham' concluded the three-day festival.
`Kirmeravadhom'
`Kirmeravadhom' begins with Dharmaputra, the eldest of the Pandavas, seeking his guru, Dhoumya's advice to suggest a method to feed the Brahmins who accompanied him to Kamyaka Vana.
Dhoumya advises him to pray to the Sun God. In the second scene, the Sun God appears before Dharmaputhra and presents him the Akshayapathram. A happy Dharmaputhra returns to his family. Lord Krishna, who arrives there, is moved by the plight of the Pandavas and summons his Sudarasana Chakra to destroy the Kauravas. However, Dharmaputhra requests Lord Krishna to withdraw the Chakra.
Kalamandalam Ratheesan excelled as Dharmaputhra. Margi Balasubrahmanyan and Margi Harivalsan performed the roles of Surya and Dhoumya respectively.
Kottakkal Ravikumar enacted Krishna. Margi Muralidharan Pillai and Margi Sukumaran essayed the roles of Sudarsanam and Panchali.
`Nalacharitam'
Inchakkad Ramachandran Pillai as Nala and Margi Vijayakumar as Damayanthi enchanted the audience with the story of the dethroned king, Nala, who wins back his kingdom in a game of dice.
The story begins with Bhima, the king of Kundina and Damayanthi's father, meeting Nala. The couple then goes to meet Rithuparna and imparts the knowledge of Aswahridaya.
Eventually Nala goes to Nishadha, his kingdom, and wins it back from Pushkara.
Attingal Peethambaran was Bheema. Kalmandalam Ratheesan and Margi Balasubrahmanyan ably performed the roles of Pushkara and Rithuparna. Kottakkal Ravikumar's handling of the swan's role (hamsam) was perfect.
Kalamandalam Krishnankutty, Kalanilayam Nandakumar, Fact Damu and Margi Mohanan handled the music on all the three days.
Kalamandalam Krishnadas, Sukumaran Nair and Margi Venugopal were the chenda artists. Kalnilayam Babu, Kalamandalam Raveendran and Margi Ratnakaran played the maddalam.
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