Charmed by Kathakali
VINU VASUDEVAN
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Isa Jacoby performed the challenging role of Ravana in `Balivijayam.'
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PHOTO: S. MAHINSHA
DEDICATED STUDENT: Isa Jacoby playing Ravana for the first time.
She saw a Kathakali performance in Germany and was hooked. This art form brought Isa Jacoby to India 26 years ago. It led her to train under Sadanan Krishnankutty and Narippatta Narayanan Namboodiri.
After her arangetam, and a few minor veshams under her gurus, she decided to concentrate on female roles. She has now been training in Margi under various gurus such as Kottakkal Ravikumar, Margi Suresh and Kalamandalam Balasubramanian for the last four years.
Kathakali lovers were treated recently to a piece from `Balivijayam' by Isa.
Challenging piece
The role of Ravana in `Balivijayam' is challenging for an artiste on account of its structure and choreography. The `sthayi in the first scene and the second is totally different. This was her first performance as Ravana. Kalamandalam Balasubramanian, who guided her for the performance of this role, vouches for her atoms and kalasams.
Isa performed the romantic first scene `Karavimsathi dasamukha... ' with the right degree of `sringara' and changed it to `veera' in the second scene.
The second scene, popularly known as `Kailasodharanam atom,' had Isa adding a touch of humour in this scene with Narada.
Attingal Peethambaran, played Narada with ease, right from his entry with the padam `Jaya jaya Ravana... ' Kalamandalam Sukumaran donned the role of Mandodari.
The music was sung by Damu and Margi Mohan.
Margi Venugopal and Kalamandalam Raveendran accompanied on the chedda and the maddalam.
The programme was organised by Indian Council for Cultural Relation, Trivandrum Chapter as part of their cultural activities.
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