Test of calibre
VINU VASUDEVAN
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The three-day Kathakali festival at Kolathur proved to be a stage for up-and-coming artistes to prove their calibre.
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IN SEARCH OF A FLOWER: Kalamandalam Harinarayanan and Kalamandalam Manoj in Kottayathu Thampuran's `Kalyanasaugandhikom.'
A three-day Kathakali festival at Kolathur, near Malappuram, proved to be a stage for up-and-coming artistes to prove their calibre. Organised by Kerala Kalamandalam, Vazhenkada Kunju Nair Memorial Trust and Kudi Kolathur, the programme displayed the artistic skills of students from Kalamandalam.
`Nalacharitham Naalaam Divasam,' `Kalyanasaugandhikom' and `Balivijayam' were the plays presented. Kalamandalam Shanmughan and Vijayakumar performed `Nalacharitham,' which depicts the reunion of Nala and Damayanthi.
Control over bhavas
Shanmughan, who donned the role of Nala, displayed control over bhavas and manodharma attams. At times his performance resembled that of Kalamandalam Gopi as he skilfully portrayed the emotions Nala goes through when he hears of Damayanthi's marriage. Vijayakumar, who played Damayanthi, excelled in the scene with the maid Kesini.
Kottayathu Thampuran's `Kalyanasaugandhikom' depicts Bhima's search for the divine flower `Saugandhikom.' A difficult play to enact, it requires the actors to do thorough homework on their roles. Kalamandalam Harinarayanan, who donned the lead, excelled in the scene where he meets Hanuman. Kalamandalam Manoj excelled as Hanuman.
`Balivijayam' saw Kalamandalam Manoj enacting Ravana while Sadanam Bhasi played Narada.
Some of the other artistes who participated were Kalamandalam Sucheendranath, Kalamandalam Narayanankutty and Sadanam Sadanandan.
Palanad Divakaran, Nedumpalli Rammohan, Kalamandalam Sudheesh and Rajesh Menon sang the songs. Kalamandalam Nandakumar, Kalanilayam Krishnakumar and Rajan accompanied them on the chenda and Kalamadalam Rajnarayanan, Hariharan and Sadanam Rajesh on the maddalam.
Apart from Kathakali performances, the event was packed with lectures on various subjects.
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