THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Once again, the musty wooden doors of the ‘Natakashala’ will be creaked open at Kilimanoor Palace. After a long, long time, the ‘kalivilakku’, hitherto placed inside the art gallery, will be polished to sparkling gleam to illumine an evening long lost in the relics of the past.
On Tuesday, the Natakashala will again be reverberating with percussion taps as ‘Ravanavijayam attakatha’ will be staged here in connection with the 199th birth anniversary of Raja Raja Varma Vidwan Koyithampuran, popularly known as Kareendran Thampuran. Nearly a hundred years have gone by since Kathakali was staged at the Natakashala of Kilimanoor Palace. The occasion will also be a revival of the innumerable evenings that were spent in devotion to the traditional art forms.
‘’During those days, not a single evening passed by without the performance of Thullal, Koodiyattam or Kathakali. We are trying to renew those ancient art forms. This occasion will be just a beginning,’’ says Biju Ramavarma, joint secretary, Kilimanoor Palace Trust.
The Natakashala at Kilimanoor Palace owns the distinction of having staged the performances and concerts of great artistes and musicians, including Shadkala Govinda Marar. ‘’Raja Raja Varma was the close friend of Swathi Thirunal and whenever great musicians and artistes visited Travancore Palace, they were naturally invited to perform at Kilimanoor Palace as well,’’ says Biju Ramavarma.
The Attakatha is being staged as part of ‘Prathibha Pranamam’ organised by the Palace Trust to celebrate the birth anniversaries of Raja Raja Varma, the author of ‘Ravanavijayam attakatha’ and Raja Ravi Varma. The revival of the Natakashala would also bring to light names like Kareendran Thampuran, who were fated to be diminished by the luminance of the great painter Raja Ravi Varma. ‘’The Palace has always been known by the name of Raja Ravi Varma. Even the present generation is completely ignorant about the cultural significance of Natakashala and the contributions of men like Kareendran Thampuran. That is why we have decided to revivify our culture by organising regular art performances at the Natakashala. This was also why we decided to celebrate the birth anniversary of Raja Raja Varma along with Raja Ravi Varma,’’ says R K Varma, convenor, Prathibha Pranamam.
With the Natakashala coming to life again, the Palace members are also mulling over organising a week-long traditional art fest in the near future. ‘’The festival will be modelled on the Soorya art festival. We want to familiarise the new generation with traditional art forms and also want to offer a platform for the artistes. Very soon, Natakashala will be brought back to its past glory,’’ says Biju.
