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Through the looking mask
NANDINI NAIR
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The classical Thai masked dance tells of myths with power and grace.
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A TALE IN DANCE Khon dancers combine strong agility with infinite grace.
Khon, the Thai masked dance, can be best understood as a dance that combines the gently swaying movements of Mohiniattam with the sheer power of Kalaripayattu (a martial art from Kerala). Khon originated as a dance for soldiers but grew into a splendid form of storytelling.
First time here
Khon from the Royal Theatre of Thailand recently travelled to a small nondescript town in Rajasthan. For the first time in India, it was performed by a 60-member troupe.
The occasion was Shree Cement’s Annual Day function. Beawar, 60 kms from Ajmer, was the unusual choice for the staging of the Ramakien, based on the Ramayana, whose journey from ancient India to the Southeast Asian region is the subject of much scholarly discussion.
Set against the backdrop of the cement factory, the performance was well-intentioned but misplaced. This grand yet specific performance seemed more suited for the proscenium theatre. The vastness of the surroundings diminished the delicacy of the dance. The gentle gestures and subtle facial expressions of the dancers required a more intimate arena. While a non-ticketed performance is essentially egalitarian, it also makes the audience careless. People walked in and out with scant respect for the performers. But while the show would have benefited from an auditorium structure, it was spectacular in terms of the skill and presentation.
The performance focused on the birth of Hanuman, the rescue of Sida (Sita) and Tosakanth’s (Ravana’s) defeat by the monkey god. Hanuman dressed in a splendid white costume woven with gold curves, symbolic of his hairs, was clearly the most popular character.
With the agility of a circus artiste but the grace of a ballerina he brought alive the monkey god’s antics and victories. Hanuman succeeded in being naughty yet heroic and deferential yet noble. Ram was blessed with a beatific face and similar grace. Sida also was true to her despair, before Hanuman rescued her.
Performed always at the Royal Theatre, this dance, says Chumnong Sangvichien, Dean at the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, has been unchanged for over 300 years.
The performances were originally five hours long. They were shortened to an hour-and-a-half, only a few years ago, despite opposition from the purists. With two performances every week at the Royal Theatre, Khon has never moved out of the royal confines. It is not like our Ramlila, which is performed in every locality. With the troupe travelling with 400 kgs of props and materials and each show costing around two lakh rupees, it is not a surprise that the dance form is a royal undertaking.
Starting young
Viroj Yusawat, a teacher of the dance for over 50 years, says, “Youngsters are more interested in other classical dances and not Khon, because it’s the most difficult. It’s more like gymnastics. One has to start young.” Ideally, children start learning it by the age of eight when muscles and bones are still supple.
Despite the royal patronage, the dance form is facing difficulties. Sangvichien says that the dancers work in other professions to supplement their income, as Khon doesn’t pay well enough.
The masks, which are crucial to this performance, are splendid in their detailing and dazzle. Today only two families still make them, because it is no longer economical. Made from a special paper, they disintegrate in the sun.
It is this kind of delicacy combined with a muscular power that makes this dance uplifting.
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An avatar of the Ramayan
Khon, a masked dance of Thailand, was performed by a 60-member troupe at a corporate function in Beawar, Rajasthan.
Usually performed only at the Royal Theatre of Thailand, the dance is said to be unchanged for 300 years.
This performance featured the Thai Ramayana, the Ramakien. It focused on the birth of Hanuman, the rescue of Sida (Sita) and the defeat of Tosakanth (Ravana) by the monkey god.
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
