The incomparable Karna
VINU VASUDEVAN
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Superb portrayals by legendary actors have made `Karnashapatham' one of the most popular plays in Kathakali.
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`Karnashapatham Kathakali,' written by Mali (V. Madhavan Nair), was staged in Thiruvananthapuram, in connection with `Swathi Sangeetholsavam.' It was the grand finale of the three-day music festival.
`Karnasapatham,' considered as the most popular play among the new `attakkathas' written in the last hundred years, made its debut in 1966 in New Delhi.
The story of `Karnasapatham,' excerpted from the `yudhaparva' of the Mahabharata, began with a scene showing Karna consoling Duryodhana's wife, Bhanumathi. She fears that her husband will be killed in the battle against the Pandavas.
Through the padam `Sodaree maharathnee... ,' in Sriragam, Karna tries to reassure her by expressing his loyalty towards Duryodhana. Confidence restored, Bhanumathi praises Karna's bravery and affectionate nature in the padam `Valsalya Varidhe Karna... ' in Kanada raga.
By then the Kaurava brothers Duryodhana and Dussasana arrive there and ask Karna to accompany them to a meeting of ministers and soldiers. However Karna declines and goes for a dip in the Ganga. It is then that the play scales heights of dramatic excellence with a heartrending soliloquy by Karna when he speculates on who his real parents are.
`Enthiha Manmanase... ' in Hindolam saw Kalamandalam Gopi, who played Karna, at his best, as Karna goes through a range of emotions. It is then that he meets Kunthi, the mother of the Pandavas, who tries in vain to win him over to the side of the Pandavas.
Thanks to the sterling performance of the artistes who breathed life into the main characters of Karna and Kunthi, this play gained a great deal of popularity.
Master performers
Master performers like the late Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair used to excel in the roles of both Karna and Kunthi. After the demise of Krishnan Nair, Kalamandalam Gopi and Kottakkal Sivarman have immortalised the roles of Karna and Kunthi in `Karnashapatham.'
Gopi's imposing stature and striking features lend charm to the characters he enacts. With apt mudras and articulate expressions, he conveys Karna's innate happiness when he sees Kunthi.
Kottakkal Sivaraman was incomparable as Kunthi. Although his mudras were inappropriate at times, the `sthayibhava' of sorrow was the attraction of his acting.
Attingal Peethambaran (Duryodhana), Margi Muralidharan Pillai (Dussasana) and Margi Vijayakumar (Bhanumathi) were the other performers.
Being a music-oriented story, `Karnashapatham' needs good singers. Palanad Divakaran deserves accolades for creating the right musical ambience to complement the play. His evocative rendition, was supplemented by Kalanilayam Rajiv. Kalamandalam Krishnadas was on the chenda and Margi Ratnakaran on the maddalam.
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