Play of wit and wisdom
T. K. SADASIVAN
|
While narrating the stories in `Mantrankam,' Margi Madhu skilfully connects them to contemporary events.
|
WORD POWER: Margi Madhu plays Vasantakan and Kuzhukuttunni in `Mantrankam.'
After ten years, Koodiyattom actor Margi Madhu stages `Mantrankam' at `Nepathya,' his institute for Koodiyattom, at Moozhikulam, near Angamaly. Madhu is one of the few artistes who presents it at regular intervals. Connoisseurs assemble at `Nepathya' in the evenings to watch Margi Madhu perform as Vasanthakan of `Mantrankam.'
`Mantrankam' is the third act of the play `Pratinjayaugandharayana,' written by Bhasa. Normally, it takes 41 days to complete the whole act. The four ministers of king Udayanan, who has been captured by Mahasenan, indulge in a discussion to rescue the king. The four ministers, Vasanthakan, Yougandharayanan, Ramanuan and Vishnuthradhan, decide to disguise themselves and travel among the people to find out the whereabouts of the king.
During the play, Vasanthakan, who also dons the role of a Brahmin named Kuzhukuttunni, appears on stage and narrates different stories, including those from the Ramayana.
`Anguliyankam' and `Mantrankam' are considered an exercise for Chakyars to master the art of acting. While `Anguliyankam' focusses on acting, the emphasis of `Mantrankam' is on conversation. It enables the actors to sharpen their eloquence and expand possibilities of verbal communication in Koodiyattom.
In the olden days, the Chakyars used to perform `Mantrankam' every year to attain perfection in their art. But now-a-days, it is rarely performed. The last enactment of `Mantrankam' was a decade ago by Madhu himself. The only other living artiste who used to perform `Mantrankam' is octogenarian Kidangoor Ramachakayar.
Experienced actor
The character of Vasantakan is a challenging one. Only an actor who is thorough with the nuances of vachika and angika abhinaya can perform it confidently. Vasantakan's costume and language are also unique. Some of the verses of `Mantrankam' are in a dialect of Tamil and Malayalam.
Margi Madhu enthrals spectators as Kuzhukuttunni. While narrating different stories of `Mantrankam,' embellished with wit and humour, Madhu skilfully connects them to contemporary events. It is interesting to watch Madhu perform `Mantrankam' with ease. The performance has also been documented in video for `Nepathya.'
Margi Madhu is supported by Kalamandalam Ratheesh Bhas, Kalamandalam Aroop. Nepathya Jeenesh (mizhavu), Harikrishnan (edakka) and Indu (tala) also played their parts well.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
