A six-day ‘Kutiyattam-Kathakali’ festival, organised in commemoration of Kutiyattam Centre founder D Appukuttan Nair, began here on Wednesday. Four Kutiyattam performances, a Chakyarkoothu performance and two Kathakali performances are the highlights of the art fiesta.
Scholar K K Gopalakrishnan inaugurated the festival at a function held at the centre. Margi president Dr George Onakkoor presided over the function and Dr NP Unni delivered the commemoration lecture. Unni said Appukuttan Nair was a luminary who helped in popularising Kutiyattam. ‘’Appukuttan Nair began his efforts by popularising Kutiyattam in the northern parts of the state. The establishment of Margi and regular staging of plays played a significant role in earning UNESCO recognition for the centuries-old art form,’’ he said. Margi secretary S Sreenivasan welcomed the gathering.
The festival began with the staging of ‘Nangyarkoothu Purappadu’ by Kumari Vishishta. It was followed by a Chakyarkoothu performance by Margi Sajeev Narayana Chakyar.
On June 27, ‘Ascharyachoodamani Ezhamankam’ Kutiyattam will be presented at 6 p.m. The portion ‘agnipraveshankam’ will be enacted by Margi Sajeev Narayana Chakyar (Sreeraman), Margi Sathi (Sita), Margi Ramachakyar (Sugreevan), Nepathya Yadukrishnan (Hanuman) and Margi Madhu (Ascharyalakshmanan).
‘’Soundaryam Sukumarata’ of Subhadradhananjayam Kutiyattam will be staged on June 28 at 6 p.m. Margi Ramachakyar (Dhananjayan) and Margi Madhu (vidooshakan) will play the lead.
On June 29 Soorpanangam Kutiyattam will be staged at 6 p.m. Margi Ramachakyar (Sreeraman), Margi Sindhu (Sita), Margi Usha (Lalitha), Master Akhil (Lakshmanan) and Margi Sajeev Narayana Chakyar (Soorpanakha) will stage the play.
The percussionists and other artists of Kutiyattam plays are Margi Unnikrishnan Nambiar and Kalamandalam Manikandan, Margi Sajikumar and Master Mahesh (Mizhavu), Margi Mohanan (Thimila), Margi Usha, Margi Sindhu and Kumari Amritha (talam), Margi Ravikumar (chutti) and Joby (aniyara).
The Kathakali performance will begin with Thodayam Purappadu Melappadam on June 30 at 6 p.m. Kalamandalam Ullas (thodayam) and Kalamandalam Parthasarathi (purappadu) are the artistes.
Health and Devaswom Minister VS Sivakumar will inaugurate valedictory on July 1 at 6 p.m. RLV Somadas will be honoured at the function which will be presided over by Govindan S Thampi. S Sreenivasan will welcome the gathering and Dr P Venugopal will present the review report.
Kalakeya Vadham Kathakali will follow the valedictory function.
The artistes are Kalamandalam Ullas (Indran), Margi Balasubramanian (Mathali), Kalamandalam Balasubramanian (Arjunan), Margi Krishnankutty, Margi Nandakumar, Margi Damu and Margi Mohanan (vocal), Margi Krishnadas, Margi Venugopal and Margi Krishnakumar (chenda), Margi Raveendran, Margi Ratnakaram and Margi Rajeev (maddalam), Margi Raveendran Nair and Margi Sreekumar (chutti).