At the very outset, Vellinezhi looks like any other typical Palakkad village with vast expanses of paddy fields and coconut groves. Except for a few buildings oozing old-world charm like the Olappamanna Mana, it has not much to win the fancy of a hurried visitor. However, the village, on the banks of the Kunthipuzha, a tributary of the Bharathapuzha, still keeps over 40 performing art forms of Kerala alive and persuades its youngsters to learn and preserve them for posterity.
Going further deep, Vellinezhi has a rich legacy of evolving the most popular and refined style of performing Kathakali, the world famous Kalluvazhi Chitta. The village has over four dozen training centres for Kathakali in the Kalluvazhi Chitta. It has also a large number of training centres for other performing arts like Koodiyattom and Thullal.
It was in this context that the State government gave its nod recently for converting Vellinezhi into southern India’s largest artist village with an initial expenditure of Rs.85 crore.
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“The move is a welcome relief to hundreds of artists in this village,” says Kunnath Harigovindan, a sculptor who learned the skill from renowned artist of the village Varikkassery Krishnan Namboodiri. Mr. Harigovindan is making a sculpture of Namboodiri to be installed in the artist village.
Researcher Sashisekhar says Kathakali artists of the village have won three Padma awards – one Padma Bhushan and two Padma Shris. Prestigious Kathakali institutions like Kerala Kalamandalam, Unnayi Varier Smaraka Kalanilayam, Sadanam Kathakali Academy, and Delhi International Centre for Kathakali have artists from Vellinezhi at the helm. All the disciples of famous Kathakali exponent Guru Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon from Vellinezhi were honoured by the Kendra Sangeeth Natak Akademi.
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“Most of the living Kathakali artists are from this village. It has intrinsic links with Carnatic music legend Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. Legends also abound about its links with Adi Sankara and Vilwamangalam Swamiyar,” he says.
According to Vellinezhi Achuthankutty, chief coordinator of the project, the village will soon have a set of cultural complexes, heritage study centres, crafts bazaar, and a heritage park. Protection of ancient caves and monuments, renovation of ponds and expansion of the village’s green cover also form part of the project.
In the first phase, a cultural complex will come up near Vellinezhy Higher Secondary School. It will house a library, cultural museum, kalari and auditorium. Art forms like Kalamezhuthu, Chakyarkoothu, Kaikottikali and Porattunatakam will also be promoted through the artist village, which will have lodging facilities for art appreciators and researchers.