The 81st anniversary of Kerala Kalamandalam and the birth anniversary of Vallathol Naraya Menon, one of its founders, was celebrated at Kalamandalm with a variety of programmes.
The two-day event featured Chakyarkoothu, a Carnatic music concert, a Thayampaka recital, Ottanthullal and Bharatanatyam recitals, and an all-night-long Kathakali performance.
Packed with satire
Kalamandalam Rama Chakyar's Chakyarkoothu and Bangalore G. Ravikiran's music concert were the highlights on the first day. Rama Chakyar, a master in this art form and a well-known Kootiyattam performer, enthralled the audience with his satire-packed presentation.
The second day's cultural session began with a Thayampaka recital by veteran chenda maestro Kallur Ramankutty. The one-and-a-half hour programme was memorable for its purity and perfection. Kalamandalam Geethanandan's enjoyable Ottanthullal recital followed.
Urmila Sathyanarayanan, a young dancer, made a mark with her beautiful Bharatanatyam performance. Urmila's lithe movements and graceful expressions impressed rasikas gathered at the Koothambalam.
The all-night Kathakali performance that followed featured excerpts from ‘Nalacharitam Onnam Divasam,' ‘Balivijayam' and ‘Kiratham.' Maestro Kalamandalam Gopi enacted the title role of Nala in ‘Nalacharitam Onnam Divasam' with his typical grace. His portrayal of the padam ‘Kundina nayaka nandinikkothoru...' was marvellous in many respects; the overflowing sringara in his expressions and his depiction of Nala's longing for Damayanthi were notable aspects of the performance. The role of the Hamsam (the golden swan) was donned by another veteran, the octogenarian Madavoor Vasudevan Nair. This legend of Kathakali's southern style enacted the role to perfection. Kalamandalam Mukundan essayed the character of Damayanti.
‘Balivijayam' by Kallur Nambudirippad narrates the story of Ravan's defeat at the hands of Bali. Kalamandalam Vijayakumar (Vazhenkada Vijayan), former principal of Kalamandalam and son of legendary artiste the late Vazhenkada Kunju Nair, performed the lead role of Ravana with skill and poise. His textbook presentation of the pathinjapadam ‘Aravinda dalopama nayane...' was noteworthy. He exhibited great control over his body movements and his easy delivery of mudras were the highlight of the performance. His well-crafted presentation of ‘Kailasodharanam' attam was a fine example of his studied approach towards the art form. Kalanilayam Raghavan, another senior artiste, donned the role of Narada, highlighting the mischievous nature of the character with flair. Kalamandalam Chinosh Balan performed the role of Bali.
A spot of humour
Up-and-coming artistes of the institute took over from the masters for what was a humour-packed performance of ‘Kiratham.' Kalamandalam Ravikumar's Kattalan stood out in this staging thanks to his extra efforts at manodharma, kalasams, and so on. The scene in which both Kattalan and Kattalasthree (Kalamandalam Anilkumar) prepares to go meet Arjuna was simply superb. Kalamandalam Neeraj's Arjuna too supported the success of the play.
The music and the percussion were rendered by the artistes of Kalamandalam.
