Tales from the Ramayana
VINU VASUDEVAN
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Vazhenkada Vijayan's choreography of `Sitaswayamvaram' was aesthetically structured.
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The role of Parasurama in `Sitaswayamvaram' is a challenging one ... as it requires the actor to maintain anger as the Sthayibhava and also perform strenuous Kalasams.
REDEFINING A CLASSIC: Kalamandalam Vijayakumar as Mahamuni Viswamithra, left, and Vazhenkada Vijayan as king Dasaratha in `Sitaswayamvaram.'
A different version of Kottarakkara Thampuran's `Sitaswayamvaram' Kathakali was staged at Sreekrishna Swami Temple, Ambalappuzha. The programme, organised with the financial assistance of the Department of Culture of the Central Government, sought to stage certain portions of the play that had not been seen on stage for a long time.
Usually the edited version of `Sitaswayamvaram' takes only ninety minutes to be staged. This version took more than four hours to narrate the entire story. Vazhenkada Vijayan choreographed the new format of the play. A week-long training programme was held for the artistes who donned the main roles in the play.
Interesting curtain raiser
The performance also began in a different manner. A `Pakuthipurappad' was performed by four artistes who were all dressed alike in `purushavesham.' Normally `Purappad' serves as a curtain raiser for the main play. Instead of being a mere demonstration of technique, this purappad narrated the childhood of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrugna. The different stages of their childhood was portrayed by this structured dance format. It was marvellous to watch the four artistes on stage.
The next scene continued the story with the arrival of Mahamuni Viswamithra. After Dasharatha agrees to send his sons with the sage, the scenes of `Thadakavadham,' `Ahalyamoksham,' and `Sitaswayamvaram' followed.
Vijayan skilfully and aesthetically choreographed these scenes into a well-structured Kathakali format. His ability to mould a text into an art form was evident in the play. He also donned the role of king Dasaratha.
The role of Parasurama in `Sitaswayamvaram' is a challenging one for any artiste as it requires the actor to maintain anger as the Sthayibhava and also perform strenuous Kalasams.
Different interpretations
Many of our maestros have presented this role in their own style and impressed the audience in the past. Vazhenkada Kunju Nair and then Ramankutty Nair had left their stamp on this character. Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharodi too has interpreted the warrior saint in his own style and idiom. This iconic role was donned by Kalamandalam Krishnakumar who enacted it brilliantly. His controlled performance subtly denoted the power and anger of Parshurama. His reaction on hearing the news that Rama had broken the `Thrayambakam' and his meeting with the newly married Rama and Sita was effectively portrayed by the artiste.
The role of Rama was played by two young artistes - Kalamandalam Shanmughan and Mukundan. Shanmughan came as Rama in the first half while Mukundan appeared in the second part.
The roles of Viswamithra and Vasishta were donned by Kalamandalam Vijayakumar and Sreekanth Sharma. Varanasi Narayanan,Kalamandalam Balasundaran and Sreekanth Varma played the chenda while Kalanilayam Manoj and Rajivan supported them on the maddalam.
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