The Sunday morning sunlight is streaming in through a window of the Idoop Palace in Tripunithura, Kochi. Kathakali dancer Parvathi Menon, who is dressed in a yellow saree, is rehearsing the role of Duryodhana. Beside her is Aarcha Gowri Varma, in a green salwar kameez, who is playing Duryodhana’s wife Bhanumathi. Behind them are the singers—Kumari Varma and Pramila Vijayan—reciting the ‘Karnashaptham’ (the story of the Pandavas and Kauravas).
All of them are part of the Vanitha Kathakali Sangham, perhaps the only all-women Kathakali troupe in Kerala. Aarcha, a post-graduate student, home-maker Kumari Varma, bank manager Radhika Varma and others form the 15-member team.
In fact, it was Radhika’s father, K T Rama Varma, a Kathakali aficionado, who got the idea of an all-women troupe. And today, the group is celebrating 40 years of its existence.
They perform stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. While earlier, it would be an all-night performance, now it is confined to only three hours. “People are so busy these days,” says Parvathi, who juggles between doing the household chores and looking after her two children and mother, as her husband works in Bahrain. “But I try to go for rehearsals three to four times a week,” says the 50-year-old.
Parvathi usually plays male characters such as Duryodhana and Ravana. “They can be fiery and villainous,” she says. “And there is a power and dynamism in male roles.”
The group has given around 1,300 concerts in Kerala and other parts of the country, apart from cities in the USA and West Asia.
Kathakali continues to be popular, even during these fast-paced times. “In fact, Kathakali is more popular among youngsters,” says troupe member Dr Haripriya Nambudiri. “Many of them learn the dance form at various art centres in Kerala.”
Of course, the most interesting part of the dance form is the elaborate costumes and make-up. “Make-up takes about five hours and is a combination of natural stones and powder, mixed with coconut oil,” she says.
And since it takes so long to put the make-up, the dancers take a nap. “As the make-up becomes elaborate, we awaken and seep into the character that we are playing,” says Radhika. And it is clear that, despite all the difficulties, they dearly love the art form. “This is our passion,” says Parvathi. “So, we will do this till our health permits.”