Giving life to epic characters
VINU VASUDEVAN
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Kathakali plays based on the Mahabharatha were the main attraction of `Kerala Natyotsavam.'
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CONFRONTATION: Kotakkal Devdas as Bakan and Kalamandalam Ratheeshan as Bhima in `Bakavadham.'
Drisyavedi organised the 18th `Kerala Natyotsavam' in Thiruvananthapuram. The week-long celebrations included performances by eminent artistes. The main attraction of the festival was the staging of Kathakali stories from the Mahabharatha.
Impressive performances
Sadanam Balakrishnan, who is the head of the department at International Kathakali Centre in New Delhi, portrayed Keechakan in `Keechaka Vadham Kathakali.' His portrayal of the title role was different in many ways. Being the senior disciple of Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair, Balakrishnan's style resembles that of his guru. The manodharma attom before the Pathinjapadam (`Malini... ') was a good example of his range of acting skills.
Sadanam Krishnan Kutty, another product of the Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair school of Kathkali, portrayed the role of Duryodhana in `Uttaraswayavaram.' The `Ekalochanam' was even more attractive in his flexible body language.
Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboothiri once again proved his potential and mastery in Thadi veshams by his portrayal of Jarasandhan in `Rajasuyam.' Another Thadi vesham artiste Kalamandalam Ramachandran Unnithan easily enacted the role of Duryodhana's crooked friend, Thrigartha. His kalasams and attoms enhanced the charm of `Uttaraswayamvaram.'
Kottakkal Chandrasekhara Warier donned the role of Dharmaputhra in `Kirmiravadhom' and Madavur Vasudevan Nair was Kirmira. Injakkad Ramachandran Pillai and Kalamandalam Rateesan portrayed Duryodhana and Bheemasena in different kathas on different days. Younger Kathakali artistes put up some exceptional performances too.
Kalamadalam Balasubramanian's portrayal of Karna in `Karnashapatham' was proof of his ability to enact emotional roles.
His graceful acting in the portrayal of Karna and Kunthi's separation was particularly memorable. Kottakkal Kesavan, an established Kathi vesham artiste, proved his mettle with his mature performance of Sisupalan in `Rajasuyam.'
Margi Vijayakumar's enactment of Sayirendhri in `Keechakavadham' was brilliant.
Senior singer of Kathakali padams, Kalamandalam Gangadharan and Kalamandalam Sanakaran Embranthri were the highlights of the festival.
Audiences were treated to a sensational display of music and percussion with a grand double melapadam by Kottakkal Madhu, Kottakkal Prasad and Kottakkal Vijayaraghavan.
There was also the rare rendering of Asthapadi 18th sloka.
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Chennai and Tamil Nadu
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Thiruvananthapuram
