A trailblazer
K. PRADEEP
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Ammannur Madhava Chakyar, the greatest living exponent of Koodiyattom, turned 90 this week.
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Photo: S.R. Raghunathan
Master performer: Ammannur Madhava Chakyar quit the stage six years ago but he continues to be an inspiration for young artistes.
It was six years back that Ammannur Madhava Chakyar, the greatest living exponent of Koodiyattom, decided to call it a day. In uncomplicated, simple words the doyen of this ancient classical theatre bowed out from a world that he strode colossus-like for more than seven decades. “Haven’t I been around too long? I now seem to mix up and even forget the ‘slokas’ during the course of a performance,” was all that Madhava Chakyar gave as a reason
for his decision to quit the stage. And there was that typical smile on his wrinkled face that seemed to say so much more.
However, the maestro continued to teach at Ammannur Chachu Chakyar Gurukulam at Irinjalakuda and give occasional lecture-demonstrations. Very often, during those demonstrations, Madhava Chakyar seemed to forget the sequence of the plays. Yet every time there was ample evidence of his mastery, gained through years of rigorous training.
Training
Madhava Chakyar belongs to the Ammannur Chakyar Madhom that has been involved in the training and propagation of Koodiyattom for centuries. Initiated into the basics of the art when he was hardly seven years old, Madhava Chakyar, like the other boys in the family, went through years of training. In addition to regular lessons in Sanskrit, the training included lessons in the art, which began at four a.m. From reciting the slokas loudly in the appropriate ragas for more than two hours, to learning the Nityakriyas, which consisted of the dance of the characters in the Purappad part of the plays, each day was spent in learning different aspects of the art form. A break for lunch was followed by learning the ‘Siddharupa’ and the ‘Amarakosa.’ The evenings were devoted for practising eye movements and reciting the slokas from memory. The training stretched over the whole day, for the whole year.
Like any young boy of his age, Madhava Chakyar once confided, he also loved to be in the company of boys of his age, climbing trees, swimming in the temple pond and studying in the English school nearby. But he found no time for all this because of the tough training. And English, even reading a newspaper in that language, was a strict no-no as his gurus felt that it would affect the fluency of their language.
Madhava Chakyar made his debut when he was 11 at Thirumandhamkunnu Temple, Angadipuram. He played the role of Sutradhara in the play ‘Balacharita.’ His first ever Prabandha Koothu was held at Trikkovil Temple at Chendamangalam. “Soon I was thought fit enough to be entrusted with minor roles. My uncle Chachu Chakyar always insisted that I learn a play thoroughly. I’m not sure whether I was developing an interest in the art that time, but let me confess I was not really passionate about koothu or Koodiyattom,” the doyen once said.
Turning point
The premature death of his uncle Madhava Chakyar proved to be the turning point. By then Chachu Chakyar, who had become a much-sought-after artiste, was finding it difficult to fulfil the family responsibilities.
So the young Madhava Chakyar was duty-bound to continue the family tradition. After 41 days of ‘bhajanam’ at Sree Koodalmanickam Temple, Irinjalakuda, Madhava Chakyar went on to don his first important role. He played Sree Rama in ‘Soorpanakhankam.’ From then on Madhava Chakyar went on to blaze a trail of glory.
The learning process continued. Madhava Chakyar trained under the princes of the erstwhile royal family of Kodungalloor. Here he mastered the art of ‘Netrabhinaya’ (eye expressions) and the methods of breath control, so essential in expressing the right expression on the face and eyes of the actor.
Ammannur, as the whole world knows him today, has mesmerised audiences all over the world.
Bestowed with the Padma Bhushan, Kalidasa Samman, Kerala and Central Sangeet Nataka Akademi honours and numerous other titles, it surely has been Madhava Chakyar’s inspiring presence that has helped keep the endangered art of Koodiyattom alive all these years.
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