TRIPUNITHURA: Kathakali exponent Kalamandalam Pradeep Kumar is well-known for his acumen in enacting a character on stage.
The dedicated artist who has been thrilling the Kathakali rasikas for the last three decades is now preparing for a 10-hour long performance titled ‘Dashasyam’ as part of his attempt to earn a place on the Limca Book of Records. He will give life to the epic character of Ravana.
According to Pradeep, his performance will be perfect blend of ‘Ravanothbhavam’, ‘Ravana Vijayam’, ‘Balivadham’, ‘Thoranayudham’ and ‘Yudham’, the five significant parts of the Ramayana.
“I want it to be a visual treat for art lovers. The performance will start with ‘Ravanothbhavam’ and end with ‘Yudham’. Kalamandalam Neeraj, Pravav P Kumar, Kalamandalam Radhakrishnan, Vellinezhi Haridas, Kalamandalam Adhithyan and Kalamandalam Pramod, Kalamandalam Chinosh Balan and Kalamandalam Praveen will perform parts.
Pradeep says that he has selected Ravana for his performance as there is no other part in Aattakadha that has more long life. “While thinking about 10-hour long performance, there is no better character than Ravana who begins and ends Ramayana,” he said.
The artist has been preparing for the performance for the last two years.
“Mental preparation for the performance started two years ago. I started training for the physical exercises mentioned in Kathakali two months ago. I strongly believe that such attempts are important to enliven the traditional art forms especially Kathakali,” he adds.
The orchestra team includes Nedumbilli Rammohan, Kalamandalam Krishnadas, Sadhanam Sivadas and Kalamandalam Balasundharan. The performance will be held at Kalikotta Palace in Tripunithura on Saturday. Pradeep was born in 1973 in Palakkad to Chenganathatttil Ramankutty and Malathi.
He has received several awards including the Central Sangeetha Natak Academy Award, Bismilla Khan Yuva Puraskar, K V Kochaniyan Award and Kunju Nair Award from Kerala Kalamandalam.