Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
Devotee of Koodiyattom
G.S. PAUL
|
Bozena Sliwczynska’s translation of ‘Soorpanakhangam’ in Polish will appear in November.
|
Photo: K.K. Najeeb
Koodiyattom fan: Bozena Sliwczynska, a professor at the Institute of Oriental Studies, Warsaw University, Poland, has been attending Koodiyattom performances for more than a decade.
Not many temples in Kerala can boast a long tradition of staging Koodiyattom performances systematically like Sree Vadakkunnathan temple, Thrissur. Nangiarkoothu performances on the first seven days was followed by 41 days of Prabandham koothu and
five days of Koodiyattom, perhaps making it the most elaborate exposition of Sanskrit theatre.
Although such performances usually have only a handful of people as audience, a Polish woman has been a constant visitor for the past decade. While many foreigners find the languages (Sanskrit and Malayalam) hard to follow, Bozena Sliwczynska, a professor at the Institute of Oriental Studies, Warsaw University, Poland, stays back to enjoy every bit of the performance.
Poland has a long tradition in Sanskrit studies. While the University of Jagielliniam in Cracou had a Sanskrit chair as early as 1893, the Warsaw University, her alma mater, opened the institute in 1932. “But studies on a private basis were popular well before 1893 itself,” says Bozena who had started with Vedic Sanskrit for her post-graduate course at the university.
In addition to the Rig Veda, she did an in-depth study of the Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads. Her professors included Andrzej Lugowski and Christopher Brisky, a devotee of Koodiyattom, who was later the Polish Ambassador to India.
“We are really proud that Poland was the first country to host a Koodiyattom performance outside India,” Bozena reminisced while describing the performance of the Kalamandalam troupe under the late maestro Paimkulam Rama Chakyar in 1980. The esoteric techniques notwithstanding, she could follow the Sanskrit slokas in the plays excerpted from ‘Balivadham,’ ‘Sakuntala’ and ‘Subhadradhanajjayam.’ Excerpts from an interview.
What attracts you to this art form?
It is a part of the great theatre tradition of the world. The rules are very strict and the techniques are complex. But the scope for improvisation within the solid structure makes it unique. I studied Natyasastra before working on Koodiyattom. I was amazed to see how the Natyasastra lives on a Koodiyattom stage. In fact, I received a clearer picture of some areas of the Natyasastra when I was exposed to the rigorous rituals and ancient practices of Koodiyattom. That’s why we invariably arrange Koodiyattom performances at the university for the benefit of theatre students.
Having learned so much about this Sanskrit theatre, have you published any work on it so far?
A few are coming out soon. My translation of ‘Soorpanakhangam’ in Polish will appear in November. Also, I have completed the book ‘The Temple Theatre Koodiyattom of Kerala’ in Polish that will be on the shelves by March 2008. Another notable one is exclusively on Prabandham koothu, but in English. Next year will also witness a manuscript edition of Bhasa’s ‘Balacharitam’ which is important as the first sloka is employed during the arangetram of the Chakyar.
Why do you attach importance to the traditional temple presentation?
“It’s only in temples that the grand structure and the complexity of the art of Koodiyattom can be seen. Moreover, it is presented before an initiated audience unlike the case of non-temple shows where the audience may not be prepared to watch a play in full. Of course, those performances can serve as an introduction to Koodiyattom, but only the temple tradition can highlight the intricacies of the theatre form in full. True, there are problems for this tradition to survive. But I hope it would. The book will be a comprehensive work covering all these aspects.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
