Story of love, valour
VINU VASUDEVAN
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Ladies Kathakali Troupe performed `Kharavadhom' at Thripunithura.
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A WOMAN'S TALE: A scene from `Kharavadhom.'
Kottarakkara Thampuran's play `Kharavadhom' was performed at Thripunithura by Ladies Kathakali Troupe. The performance was jointly organised by Thripunithura Municipality and Kathakali Club with the assistance from the Department of Culture, Central Ministry.
Kottarakkara Thampuran wrote eight attakathas, of which `Kharavadhom' is the fourth. All the eight attakathas have been drawn from the Ramayana, of these three have become very popular.
Unfortunately `Kharavadhom' is among the least popular of the kathas. However, the Ladies Kathakali Troupe took the initiative to popularise this story. Before staging the play, they re-structured the text and the choreography of the old attakatha with the help of scholars. Although the play had been restructured, the continuity of the play was maintained.
The two-and-a-half hour performance was divided into five scenes. All the veshams, mainly pacha, kathi, kari, and minukku were balanced and helped shape the performance.
Soorpanekha's tale
The performance started with the recollections of Ravana's sister, Soorpanekha. In the attom, she expresses her feelings and frustrations on being widowed. Geetha Ramesh skilfully depicted Soorpanekha's infatuation for Rama and her vain efforts to win him over. Geetha ably expressed Soorpanekha's disappointment on being turned down by Laxmana as well. The lead character, Khara makes an appearance only after Soorpanekha's battle with Laxmana.
The choreography by FACT Padmanabhan was effective and so was the music composition by Cherthala Thankappa Panicker. An important aspect of this play is that, the central character was a woman, and the performers too were women.
Haripriya Namboothiri essayed the lead role of Lalitha, the beautiful form of Soorpanekha when she tries to attract Rama. She evocatively portrayed the sthaybhava (sringaram) of the character.
Radhika Ajayan and Suma Varma relied on their experience to enact the roles of Rama and Laxmana.
The role of king Khara was portrayed by Ranjini Suresh. The Veera bhavam, which is the trademark of a Kathi vesham, was effectively handled by the artiste. Shyama as Sita also played her part. Kumari Varma and Shilaja Varma's rendition of the lyrics was fluent.
Gopikrishnan Thampuran and Kalamandalam Srikumar were on the chenda and Kalamandalam Sasi and Prakashan on the maddalam.
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