Youngsters are flocking to the ‘Kathakali Sibiram’ going on at Chemanchery in Kozhikode. A few ones are coming for the first time, and the rest are regular visitors. Held for the 15th time, the free workshop, aimed at finding talented youngsters who can promote Kathakali in the new age, and at offering basic knowledge to the public who are interested in the art form, is active and creative.
The team of youngsters and their trainers are more enthused to celebrate the 100th birthday of their master trainer Guru Chemanchery Kunjiraman Nair.
Popularising the art form for nearly nine decades (Guru Chemanchery started practising Kathakali at the age of 14 and started teaching it apart from performing), Guru is still energetic in imparting the techniques of veshams to the new generation.
Sixty youngsters, including 32 girls, are taking part in the ‘Kathakali Sibiram’, that began on April 16. The workshop will continue till April 25 at the Kathakali Vidyalayam, Cheliya, Chemanchery.
“Every day, we are learning new techniques. Along with the youngsters, the teachers are also updating themselves. Any new change is acceptable,” says Chemanchery. Eminent personalities are taking daily sessions in vesham, Kathakali sangeetham, chenda, chutti and maddalam. Kalanilayam Hari, Kalamandalam Premkumar, Kalamandalam Sivadas, Kalamandalam Kesavan Namboothiri, Kalamandalam Subrahmanyan, Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan and Kalanilayam Padmanabhan are leading the sessions. For each day, the titles of the rasas are given.
Girl students mostly prefer vesham and Kathakali sangeetham and only one student has registered for Kathakali chenda. Trainers have the opinion that the students mostly prefer the art forms to gain marks in the competitions at the school and college levels. “Students are mostly attracted to the art forms, thinking of the grace marks. Rarely, those with genuine interest reach the schools. Only a small percentage of those gaining training continue to take up the profession of a Kathakali artist,” says Premkumar.
The sessions start at 9 am at the Kathakali Vidyalayam. The first session is from 9 am to 1.30 pm, where the youngsters will be introduced to the specific art forms. Five kalaris are giving training in various related art forms of Kathakali. From 2.30 pm to 5 pm, Kathakali will be staged. ‘Karnasapatham’, ‘Nalacharitham - Onnam Divasam,’ ‘Kalyanasougandhikam’, ‘Narakasuravadham’, ‘Balivijayam’ and ‘Santhanagopalam’ are the selected ones for the workshop.
Apart from the sessions in Kathakali, on Thursday, the costumes used for Kathakali will be introduced to the participants. The costumes and ornaments will be displayed at the workshop for the benefit of the students. An art exhibition of Kalanilayam Padmanabhan and Lijeesh V K will be held. At 4 pm, P Kunhiraman Nair’s ‘Kaliyachan’ will be presented on the stage. On Friday, Guru Chemanchery will distribute membership cards to the new students who have joined the two-year Kathakali course.
The debut performances of the former students will also be held. On the same day, along with mural, tantric and portrait painting techniques, mukhathezhuth, chutti and theppu will be introduced to the participants.