Glimpses of a colourful world
K. PRADEEP
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A two-day workshop was held in Thripunithura to familiarise youngsters with the aesthetics of Kathakali.
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Learning session: The Kathakali workshop was aimed at school and college students.
For most children the fascination for Kathakali is primarily the synchronised combination of movement, light, colour and sound which creates an epic, larger-than-life world. It is usual to see kids crowding around the green room to watch the intricate make-up. On stage, the exciting battles and lively characters such as Hanuman, keep them on the edge of the seat. Kathakali is certainly more than all this and to experience it in full calls for a more mature understanding of this classical art.
Like actors who ripen with experience and, of course, hard work, there is need for some systematic study to grow into seasoned aficionados. At a time when, like most classical traditional art forms, Kathakali is pushed to the sidelines, avenues to understand and appreciate the art have shrunk considerably. It is in this context that a two-day workshop organised by Tripunithura Kathakali Kendram becomes relevant.
Orientation for students
“Our focus was on school and college students. We have noticed that it is this group that needs an orientation. A large number of children have an inherent interest in Kathakali but are put off when they find it difficult to understand the technical and other finer aspects. Our intention was to familiarise this generation with each and every feature of this art form,” says Ranjini Suresh, Tripunithura Municipal Chairperson and executive member of the Kendram.
Beginning with the various rituals associated with Kathakali, such as Keli, Arangukeli, Thodayam, Purappad, Melapadam and Dhanashi, the workshop moved on to the different features of training, such as the massage, training for the legs and so on.
The most significant part of the workshop was the session where the mudras or hand gestures were explained. Based on the ‘Hasthalakshna Deepika,’ eminent artistes like FACT Padmanabhan, Kalamandalam Sreekumar and Kalamandalam Haridas, elaborated on the 24 basic mudras and also on the Samyukta, Asamyukta and Misra varieties of hand gestures. Also illuminating was the session that threw light on the body movements that accompany different mudras.
Song, music and rhythm play a vital role in Kathakali. The workshop focussed on various talas and ragas used, and on the importance of the percussion instruments such as chenda, maddalam and edakka in a Kathakali performance. Sadanam Vijayan, Kalamandalam Radhakrishnan and E. N. Narayanan were the other expert speakers at the workshop.
At the interactive sessions, the participants posed interesting queries and aired their views, which found answers from the experts.
The workshop concluded with ‘Keechakavadham’ Kathakali, which provided a fitting finale to two days devoted to the understanding of this art form.
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