Composer of rhythmic poetry
K.K. GOPALAKRISHNAN
|
Mizhavu maestro P.K. Narayanan Nambiar who turns 80 on June 10 will be felicitated by his disciples and fans.
|
Percussion maestro: P.K. Narayanan Nambiar.
The mizhavu, the main percussion instrument that is played during recitals of Koodiyattom, Chakyarkoothu and Nangiarkoothu, is considered one of the oldest percussion instruments in India. A reference to the mizhavu in the second century classic of Tamil literature ‘Chilappathikaram’ is believed to be the earliest reference about the instrument.
Unique style
It was maestro P.K. Narayanan Nambiar who gave a new lease of life to the mizhavu. The mizhavu was considered a mere percussion instrument to provide the rhythm for Koodiyattom recitals. But Nambiar’s magical fingers showcased the immense potential of the mizhavu by initiating changes within the traditional framework of Koodiyattom. He initiated a style of his own that was highly lyrical and exuded the sublime nuances of the rhythmic modulations of the instrument. Thus his performance was always considered as rhythmic poetry.
Narayanan Nambiar is the senior-most performer of the mizhavu and almost all the mizhavu artistes and performers of today are either his disciple or students of Nambiar’s disciples.
“The stathyi of the character and the situation of the episode that is being enacted on stage have always decided the way I play the mizhavu. It is not the volume of the mizhavu that matters,” he says. In 1939, at the age of 12, he began by accompanying performances that were conducted as formal rituals in certain temples of North and Central Kerala.
“ This experience at a tender age substantially helped me in creatively formatting the artiste in me,” reminisces Nambiar. From 1962 he started performing extensively in Kerala and at a few centres outside the State as percussionist to his father, Mani Madhava Chakyar. He was appointed guru of mizhavu at Kerala Kalamandalam (1966). It was during this period that he groomed a host of brilliant mizhavu performers like Eswaran Unni and V.K.K. Hariharan, among others.
After his retirement from Kalamandalam in 1988, he came forward to redefine the choreography of Mantramgam Koodiyattam through Margi, Thiruvananthapuram, under the initiative of D. Appukuttan Nair. Now, Nambiar devotes his time for the functioning of Mani Madhava Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam that he founded in memory of his father at Lakkidi in Ottapalam, his home town.
Nambiar choreographed new plays such as ‘Mathavilasam’ and ‘Kaliyamkam’ and came forward with new stories namely ‘Anthakavadham’ and ‘Markandeyacharitam’ for Chakyarkoothu performance.
It was Nambiar who introduced the art of Thayambaka on the mizhavu in 1948. Until 1996, he used to perform Koodiyattom, both as the nayakan (hero) and the vidushakan (jester).
His debut performance in 1954, at Lakkidi Kunjan Memorial Library, as Arjuna (hero) in ‘Subradhananjayam,’ was a milestone in the history of the art form as it was the first Koodiyattom presentation by a non-Chakyar outside temple precincts. Nambiar is also a seasoned Patakam performer and a Sanskrit scholar.
Versatile artiste
What makes him a versatile genius among artistes, is his substantial contribution as researcher, writer and scholar. It was Nambiar who came forward with the first book on Nangiarkoothu – ‘Sreekrishnacharitam Nangiarammakoothu,’ published by the Kerala Kalamandalam in 1984. It played an important role in reviving and understanding the tradition that was once confined to a few temples as a ritualistic art form. Nambiar also authored the books such as ‘Mantramgam’ (1980) and ‘Mizhavu-Nambiar’s Kramadeepika’ (2005) and research dissertations such as ‘Koodiyattavum Natyshastravum’ and ‘Natyavum Yagnavum.’
He has also written several articles on the intricacies and philosophical elements of Sanskrit theatre tradition, some of which have been collected and published under the title ‘Manjusha’ (2005).
He is the recipient of innumerable honours. Nambiar who turns 80 on June 10, as per the Malayalam calendar, will be felicitated by his disciples and fans on June 9 and 10 at Lakkidi, Ottappalam.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
