KOCHI: A true appreciation of Chakyarkoothu demands a typical Kerala background and a Malayali mind. Various styles of presentation of Chakyarkoothu were popularised in different parts of Kerala by Ammannoor Chachu Chakyar, Paimkulam Rama Chakyar and Mani Madhava Chakyar, who had inherited these styles from their ancestors.
Among the above said styles, the sharpest and most satirical is that of Ammannoor Chachu Chakyar. The bold and inimitable style of the Ammannoor School flourished during a later period, that of Padmabhooshan Guru Ammannooor Madhava Chakyar.
The narration of the Bhagavadhoothu Prabandha Koothu by Ammannoor Kuttan Chakyar at the Oottupura of Sree Poornathrayeesha Temple presented some really memorable moments. Many a time, Kuttan Chakyar evoked the memories of his uncle Ammannoor Madhava Chakyar, especially during his transformations from one character to another through spontaneous acting.
A group of connoisseurs, who had earlier organised the Purushartha Koothu of late Guru Ammannoor Madhava Chakyar, has planned the four-day-long Bhagavadhoothu Chakyarkoothu which concluded on Saturday.
Bhagavadhoothu Prabandham (Sanskrit Prose) penned by legendary poet Melpathoor Narayana Bhattathiri reveals the diplomatic approach of the Lord Krishna towards Kauravas to avoid a destructive war between the cousins, Pandavas and Kauravas.
Kuttan Chakyar started with the description of the qualities essential for a messenger. Here Chakyar ridiculed those messengers who make things more complicated by giving their own version to the message. The next day Kuttan Chakyar elaborated the peace talk delivered by Krishna to Duryodhana, in which the qualities and diplomatic style followed by Krishna was compared to that of a good ruler who has to try his level best to avoid war.
Chakyar showed his incomparable skill in linking sub stories with the main story line while describing the ridiculous remarks made by Krishna about Duryodhana.
While narrating the story of Yayathi, Chakyar presented the subtle elements of mono act to portray the conversations that took place between the saint Shukra and his only one daughter Devayani. Through modulated tonal variations Kuttan Chakyar convincingly portrayed the characters like Sharmishta, Santhanu and his sweetheart Sathyavathi, Bheeshmar, Yayathi and his sons.
While describing the meaning of Sanskrit excerpts from the Prabandham, Chakyar first explained its meaning.
After that, the words in the text were split and the intensity of sharp remarks made by Krishna revealed.
The beauty of the ancient slang , the rendition of the sharp remarks and the remarks directed at the audience to compare some of them with the characters of the story were all well presented by Kuttan Chakyar. Even without the electronic sound support Chakyar’s punching diction could make an impact on connoisseurs.
Kuttan Chakyar has inherited everything from Madhava Chakyar except the boldness of Ammannoor Madhava Chakyar to deliver sharp and timely witty remarks which wonderfully have similarities with contemporary issues. However Kuttan Chakyar could maintain the sweetness of the slang used by Ammannoor tradition which is considered the best among the myriad styles followed by the Paimkulam and the Maani schools.
After narrating the heated exchange between Krishna and Duryodhana in the latter’s Durbar, Kuttan Chakyar concluded the Bhagavathoothu Koothu by describing the Vishwaroopa Dharshanam of Krishna before Kauravas when they deny the Pandavas even a pinch of land and thus avoid war at Kurukshethra. The four day long satirical evenings presented by Ammannoor Kuttan Chakyar helped listeners rewind their memories to a golden era when Chakyarkoothu was presented as a corrective measure for the Kings of small provinces in Kerala.
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