Remembering Hyderali
K.K. GOPALAKRISHNAN
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Kathakali aficionados still mourn the loss of vocalist Kalamandalam Hyderali who died in an accident last year.
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Kalamandalam Hyderali.
Even after a year of his demise there are many who cannot come to terms with the death of Kalamandalam Hyderali who died in an accident on January 5 last year.
Although the singing of Kathakali songs was his forte, Hyderali was also known as an art enthusiast, composer, orator, freelance writer, author and painter. His musical compositions include a few varnams that enriched the repertoire of Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam. `Orthal Vismayam' (Amazing Reflections), released a few months before his demise, was his autobiography.
He was both an extraordinary artiste and a wonderful human being and friend.
It was Hyderali and Sankaran Embrandiri, along with the late Venmani Haridas, who ushered in a renaissance in Kathakali music.
Hyderali had to struggle with an orthodox social structure and a tradition bound cultural system.
Not a bed of roses
Despite a post at the FACT Kathakali troupe, life was not a bed of roses for Hyderali. Not only did he have to face various prejudices, but he also had to face criticism when he experimented with ragas such as Sindhubhairavi and Hindolam. He was accused of trying to make "Kathakali music Carnatic."
His perseverance, however, paid off. He conquered the Kathakali world of music. He became a celebrity. He broke down society's barriers.
His effortlessness in singing was unambiguously praiseworthy as music originated from his heart. Ragas like Kalyani, Thodi, Devagandhari, Sankarabharanam and Dwijavanthi enjoyed a special flavour in his voice.
Most soothingly, he used both the subtle nuances of the gamakas of Carnatic music and some of the heart throbbing Hindustani ragas to brighten the bhavas of the Kathakali repertoire.
All such experiments were within the format of the traditional rendering for acting (abhinaya sangeetam), which he believed was on a par with the musical heritage of Kerala.
The vacuum left by Hyderali remains vacant though there are young talents emerging in the field.
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