Unmatched artistry
G.S. Paul
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Kuzhur Narayana Marar has been awarded the `Pallavur Appu Marar Puraskaram.'
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PERCUSSION ACHARYA: Kuzhur Narayana Marar.
Kerala is a land of percussion marvels. Among the myriad percussion ensembles it has produced, Panchavadyam has a unique appeal. Strangely, Panchavadyam has always prospered under `trios.' Achutha Marar, Parameswara Marar and Peethambara Marar of Annamanada; Appu Marar, Maniyan Marar and Kunjukuttan Marar of Pallavur and Kuttappa Marar, Narayanan Marar and Chandrasekhara Marar of Kuzhur. By selecting Kuzhur Narayana Marar for the coveted `Pallavur Appu Marar Puraskaram,' the Government has recognised the contributions of Kuzhur, though belatedly.
Popularising Panchavadyam
Apart from innovations for enriching percussion ensemble, the Kuzhur brothers were noted for their assiduous efforts for popularising Panchavadyam. Travelling all over the country at a time when transport facilities were meagre, they staged performances without a break, as a result of which Panchavadyam attained pride of place at numerous new venues and temples. The zeal for the art form is such that even today 81-year-old Narayana Marar has never thought about retiring from the field.
Kuzhur is a remote hamlet in the southern part of Thrissur district. As a child of the Marar family, he was initiated into rituals at the age of five by his father Manikkamangalam Kuchupilla Kurup.
Lessons on the edakka, timila and chenda were taught by such gurus as Perumpilly Kesava Marar, Ramamangalam Thazhathedath Rama Marar and Manikkamangalam Narayana Kurup. Endowed with a rare inclination for music and rhythm he soon became an ace percussionist.
Among his mentors, Narayana Marar respects Annamanada Parameswara Marar from whom he had learnt the techniques of `pathikalam' of which the latter was an authority. An innovation introduced in the latter half of the last century, `pathikalam' comprised three slow tempos and is a feast for connoisseurs. Narayana Marar's dexterity in the much sought-after `triputa kalam' is also famous.
What makes Marar endearing to his colleagues and fans is his behaviour as a pramani (helmsman) of the melam. Timila is supreme in Panchavadyam. Marar's fingers would beat out the tones of a variety of percussion instruments.
Usually the term `timilakkarante chenda' in the melam circles connotes the inferior quality of performance by a Panchavadyam artiste on the chenda. But Marar has proved that he is equally competent on this instrument too by presenting thayambaka on a few occasions. It would be difficult to find someone to duplicate percussion acharya Kuzhur Narayana Marar's unmatched artistry and popularity.
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