Staging temporal characters
G.S. PAUL
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Select scenes from `Bakavadham' and `Lavanasuravadham' were staged in Thrissur.
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Photo: K.K. Najeeb
DOWN TO EARTH: Kalanilayam Gopinath played Mannaan while Kalanilayam Madhumohan enacted Mannaathy.
Thrissur Kathakali Club staged select scenes from `Bakavadham' and `Lavanasuravadham' as part of its monthly programmes in August. Aasaari (carpenter) in `Bakavadham' is perhaps a singular character among the veshams in Kathakali plays. The role has been immortalised by many stalwarts. Among them Koppan Nair stands out as he was honoured with the epithet `Aasaari.'
Comic touch
Aasaari appears in the third scene of the play. The very style of his entry on stage evokes laughter as his minukku vesham has a disproportionate moustache. He introduces himself to Dharmaputrar as a `khananan' (adept in digging), sent by Vidurar. His mission is to construct a tunnel for the Pandavas to escape from Arakkillam. His antics on stage evoke laughter as he settles on the stage to chew pan. His tools come handy as he prepares the pan.
Despite the comic touch in the scene, the strict chitta (format) of Kottayam plays was discernible in the portrayal of Aasaari. Kalamandalam Manojkumar as Aaasari had a group of children in splits.
The second scene in `Lavanasuravadham' portrays a domestic quarrel between `Mannaan' and `Mannaathy' (a washer-man and his wife). Mannaan is incensed as Mannaathy had failed to return home the previous night. He beats her up and tries to strangle her. She fails to pacify him even after she cites the example of Rama who accepted Sita, although she lived for a year in Ravana's kingdom. Eventually she is thrown out of their house.
Suitable attire
The temporal nature of the characters was evident in the aharya of Mannathy who was attired in a lungi and a blouse. Kalanilayam Gopinath played Mannaan while Kalanilayam Madhumohan played Mannaathy.
Vocal support was provided by Kalamandalam Para Narayanan Namboodiri and Achuthankutty Menon. Kottakkal Prasad Mannadiar was on the chenda and Kalanilayam Prakashan on the maddalam.
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