‘Thodayam’, a cultural organisation based in Kozhikode, celebrated its 23rd anniversary in a grand style with Kathakali performances by a number of artistes, ranging from stalwarts to up-and-coming artistes. The show began with Purappad and Melappadam performed by younger artistes with the support of musicians Nedumpally Rammohan and Kottakkal Vengeri Narayanan and percussionists Kottakkal Vijayaraghavan and Kalamandalam Ravishankar (chenda) and Kalamandalam Haridas and Sadanam Bharatharajan (maddalam).
An excerpt from ‘Subhadraharanam’ was performed thereafter. This popular play is considered as one of the most systematic among the attakathas. Kalamandalam Gopi performed his signature Pacha role of Arjuna. The first scene, where Arjuna marries Subhadra in the presence of Lord Krishna and Indra, was a visual extravaganza, due to its beautiful choreography sans music, with just the talas of the chenda and the maddalam accompanying the artistes on stage. The 20-minute-long scene depicts the couple receiving divine blessings.
Gopi enacted a pure ‘Kalarichitta’-based performance in his first padam ‘Kashtam njan kapadam kondu...’ The second scene turned magical when Gopi enacted the famous padam ‘Kanjadala lochanee...’ Following the exit of Arjuna and Subhadra from the stage, an angry Balabhadra enters. Kalamandalam Krishnakumar, a disciple of Gopi, essayed the role with energy and emotion. His initial manodharma attam was rather lacklustre but he made up for it in his scenes with Krishna. Kottakkal Sudheer as Krishna was dynamic, with his short and sharp textbook manodharma attams. Kalamandalam Shanmughan donned the role of Subhadra.
In Irayimman Thampi’s ‘Dakshayagam’, Kottakkal Chandrasekhara Warrier enacted the lead role of Daksha (first). The play began with the scene where a lotus plucked by Daksha and his wife turns into the damsel Sathi. Warrier exhibited Daksha’s happiness with ease. His skill was put to test in the next scene in which Daksha vents his anger on Lord Indra for compelling him to marry Sathi to Lord Shiva. Warrier’s masterful acting of the padam ‘Ariyathe mama puthriye…’ was the highlight of the evening.
Ettumanoor Kannan performed the role of Daksha (second) with zest. Each of his movements was apt for the character. Kalamandalam Sajan enacted the lead female role of Sathi with élan. His facial expression and reactions were different but brilliant. He managed to maintain the sthayi bhava of the character. Peesappilly Rajeevan’s Sivan and Kalamandalam Manoj’s Nandikeswaran were also quite good. The star of the play, however, was septuagenarian Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri, who donned the role of Veerabhadra. He managed to keep the audience on its toes as Veerabhadra stormed across the stage for upwards of half an hour in his quest to kill Daksha.
Madambi Subramanian Nambudiri's rendering of the padams in ‘Subhadraharanam’ stood out as did Kottakkal Narayanan in ‘Dakshayagam’. Kalamandalam Krishnadas and Kalamandalam Nandakumar were the main chenda artistes. Kalamandalam Narayanan Nambissan and Kalamandalam Harinarayanan played the maddalam.
Kathakali artistes Kalamandalam Gopi, Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri, Kalamandalam Narayanan Nambissan and Kottakkal Narayanan were felicitated prior to the programme.
