KOCHI: July 1 will mark the first death anniversary of Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar.
And koodiyattom connoisseurs of Kochi still remember the immortal acting moments that Chakyar presented at the International Centre for Koodiyattom many a time.
“After the centre started functioning in 1995 we were fortunate to see him perform on stage here,” recalls Dr K G Paulose, Vice- Chancellor of Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed University, who was the driving force behind the centre.
Madhava Chakyar was always keen to perform for the centre, says K P Achuthan, founder member and former secretary of the centre. “Whenever we approached the maestro with various projects like the staging of Thorana Yudham, Ashoka Vanikaankam, Baali Vadham and Subhadra Dhananjayam, he came and gave us some of the best performances in his seven-decadeslong artistic life,” Achuthan recalls.
Earlier koodiyattom programmes used to be staged at the old auditorium at Government Sanskrit College which was too small to accommodate all connoisseurs. Yet Chakyar presented each play with utmost care and the performance was very similar to those presented in the ‘koothambalams’ of Vadakkumnathan Temple, Thrissur.
One programme in the late 90s saw Madhava Chakyar enacting the role of Ravana in Thoranayudham. He entered the stage as Ravana, glowing in the light of country torches and other traditional paraphernalia.
In his inimitable style he began to enact ‘Kailaasodharanam.’ As the first step Chakyar gave a visual picture of the huge mountain, which is called ‘Kailaasam Nokkikaanal.’ Then was the much awaited Kailaasodharanam.
Here Chakyar adopted the acting style based on breath control which he had mastered from his master, Guru Kodungalloor Kunjunni Thampuran. Through his controlled breath and expressive blue eyes, Madhava Chakyar made the performance a memorable one. After this matchless performance Chakyar unveiled the beauty of ‘Pakarnnaattam’ assuming the roles of Lord Siva, Goddess Parvathi and also Ravana, just by making a slight change in the position of ‘uthareeyam,’ the ceremonial cloth.
By incorporating the techniques learned from his uncle Ammannur Chachu Chakyar and the invaluable lessons from Kunjunni Thampuran, Chakyar turned himself completely into these characters.
“The memories of ‘Paarvathi Viraham’ presented by Chakyar remain afresh in our minds,” says K P Achuthan.
Koodiyattom buffs of Tripunithura also got the rare chance to enjoy ‘Vaachikaabhinayam,’ the oral acting. It was in 1995 when Chakyar presented ‘Ashana Purushaartham’ at Thattu Maalika, the royal balcony near Sree Poornathrayeesha Temple.
Chakyar took two nights to narrate the satirical story of the Brahmins of an imaginary village, Anadheethi Mangalam.
Through this he ridiculed social evils and the degradation of morality in the contemporary society.
He presented the rare Vinodham, Vanchanam and Rajaseva in 1998. “The bold satirical remarks made by Chakyar still echo inside the Thattumalika, recalls Rameshan Thampuran, one of the organisers.
And the devotees of Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharma Sastha Temple could enjoy the narrative style of Madhava Chakyar for years. For more than eight years Chakyar presented satirical ‘prabandhams’ like Panchali Swayamvaram, Rajasooyam and selected portions from Ramayanam here.
Chakyar always considered Tiipunithura as his second home and was very keen to present his best performance here. The admiration was mutual and the people of Tripunithura organised a special reception to mark his 84th birthday at Seema Auditorium where he had presented some unforgettable performances like ‘Balivadham’ and ‘Subhadra Dhananjayam.’ And the memories of this thespian remain afresh in the minds of koodiyattom lovers in and around Kochi.