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Rare art Kapila Venu performing in the Capital.

The theatre art of Kudiyattam has evolved over 2500 years and is said to be more ancient than Kathakali. Traditionally practiced by Chhakyar men and Nangiar women, Kudiyattam is one of the rare art forms of Kerala where women have a role to play. The art form became internationally acclaimed in 2001 when UNESCO bestowed world heritage status upon it, declaring it a masterpiece of intangible heritage. In an effort to acquaint students with this art form, Spic Macay organised a performance by Kapila Venu at Delhi University in the Capital recently. A Sangeet Natak Academy scholar, Kapila belongs to the Ammannur Madhava Chakyar Gurukul and has been groomed by her illustrious father, G. Venu.

The reverberating beats of the mizhavu, a percussion instrument, announced the beginning of the show and extended an invitation to all the three worlds to witness this divine art. The mizhavu is a unique copper drum crafted with elaborate rituals and is treated as a living entity. When the instrument wears out, rites are performed similar to those performed for the human being.

Normally two mizhavu players are seated on elevated stools behind the artiste. They have the intuitive skills to synchronise their beat to the finger movements of the performer. Kapila chose to perform Narasimha Avatar. The riveting presentation unfolded the story of Lord Vishnu who took the avatar of half-man, half-lion to destroy the evil king Hiranya and protect the his son Prahlada. Kapila portrayed the majestic if pompous king, his joyous reunion with Prahlad on the latter’s return from years spent at the gurukul, his anguish, rage and shock when Prahlad says “Narayana” and his disappointment amazingly well. Among images beautifully depicted by the artiste were the gait of elephants, the slithering movement and hissing of the snakes and the searing heat of fire.

Kapila had the audience spellbound when she showed the explosion of the pillar and the fury of God Narasimha. She mesmerised everyone with her depiction of raudra bhava (rage), where evil was finally destroyed, and slowly wound down to shanta (peace) and finally the transition to Karunya (compassion) when the Lord blesses the devotee Prahlad. Kapila deployed astounding skills of bhava, abhinaya, mudra and body postures to leave the audience breathless. She ended her programme by reciting “Krishnaya Tubhyam Namaha” in a meditative pose.

The occasion was graced by the legendary Dhrupad singer, Ustad Fahimuddin Dagar.

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