Stamp of a genius
G.S. PAUL
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Kalamandalam Kesavan is an unmatched percussion artiste. He is also a prolific author and versatile actor.
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MULTIFACETED: Chenda maestro Kalamandalam Kesavan is an actor and author.
There has been few percussion artistes whose mere presence on the Kathakali arangu served to boost the confidence of actors. Though their spatial location on the arangu was the dim-lit stage, their unmatched artistry wielded amazing influence on the total presentation of the play. Among this rare group of talents that Kathakali produced during the second half of the last century, Kalamandalam Kesavan's contributions have been invaluable. Kesavan turned 70 on May 24.
His uncle Neettiyath Govindan Nair groomed him in percussion. Kesavan then went on to train in Kathakali melam under stalwarts like Moothamana Kesavan Namboodiri and Thiruvallwamala Venkinchan Swamy at the famous Poomully Mana in Peringode, near his home. His love for percussion motivated him to enrol in Kalamandalam under the renowned Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval in 1954.
Birth of a writer
Life in Kalamandalam helped discover his literary talents. His association with the Vallathol family provided the necessary encouragement.
"There were occasions when I enjoyed solitude on the banks of the Nila in the old Kalamandalam; verse after verse overflowing my imagination," he reminisces. Small wonder that the percussion student turned into a prolific author and Kathakali playwright later.
After graduation from Kalamandalam in 1954, Kesavan had to face the grim realities of life as he got few opportunities to perform. The stints at Kala Sadanam, Chunangad, and later at RLV Academy, Thripunithura, were temporary. However, he considers his stint at RLV a blessing.
"I mastered the art of accompanying the actors on the percussion through Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, who was with RLV at the time."
His joining FACT Kathakali School was accidental. Asked to play the chenda for the selection process of an actor to the school, he was surprised when the chairman M.K.K. Nair invited him to join the school.
The three decades in FACT were his halcyon days as it witnessed Kesavan soaring to new heights of creativity.
He became an acclaimed writer with more than 40 works to his credit. Of his plays, `Rustom and Sorab' and `Hamlet' are noteworthy as they mark a departure from the conventional stories that embraced stories culled from mythology. `Karkodakan,' `Melam,' `Edakkayude Dukkham,' `Peelikkannukal (Slokas),' `Niyogam (Khanta kavyam) and numerous poems for children had the stamp of originality. `Thenthulli' won him the Sahithya Akademi award.
What has surprised Kesavan is his popularity as an actor. `Kathanaayakan' became a hit and Kersavan's role had veterans like Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair rush to the theatre the same day to watch his colleague's vesham in the film. After the show, Ramankutty Nair told Kesavan he was entering a cinema after 65 years.
It was Aravindan who had spotted the actor in him. The pivotal role in Aravindan's `Oridathu' did not materialise owing to an accident in which Kesavan was injured. `Marattam' was Kesavan's first film. Since then he has never had to look back.
`The Car,' `Don Bosco,' `Nadan Pennum Nattupramaniyum,' `Varavai,' `Saivar Thirumeni,' and `Oru Katha Pole' made him a busy actor. Serials like `Bharya,' `Sinduram' and `Sthree Oru Punnyam' made him a familiar face on television as well.
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