Arjunan is elegance personified in his kathakali costume. The magnanimity of his character is well-defined with the prominence of green makeup on his face. Kathakali’s larger-than-life quality, from its massive costumes to the superhuman characters, could have been the reason for its popularity, world over. However, when kathakali maestros such as Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Krishnan Nair, Gopi and even Hyderali are household names in Kerala, those who lend them the appearance of superheroes are often forgotten. ‘chuttikuthal’ (make up of kathakali) which takes up to three hours behind the scenes is often done by expert hands.
RLV Somadas, a veteran in ‘chuttikuthal’ has been in the field for more than 45 years. He is the most sought-after hand in the field for his sheer skill. Though ‘chuttikuthal’ and costume making for kathakali is something that he learned by himself, his deftness in ‘chenda’ is gained from years of learning under Kalamandalam Keshavapothuval.
“I have been learning ‘chenda’ from the age of fourteen at RLV College of Music and Fine Arts, Tripunithura. My father Pulimath Ramanpillai and brother Kilimanur Sivadasan were also in the field of kathakali. Later on I started helping artists with ‘chutti’ and became an expert in it. If the years of my experience in kathakali are counted I have been in the field for around 47 years,” says Somadas.
Somadas’ significance in the field of Kathakali is evident from the list of personalities who had attended his 60th birthday celebrations. From Padmabhushan Madavur Vasudevan Nair to Padmasree Kalamandalam Gopi were present at the function and proffered their blessings. His admirers had made the occasion special with the performance of ‘Kuchelavrutham’ kathakali.
“I was able to keep good relations with legends such as Krishnan Nair Asan and Gopi Asan. Krishnan Nair always insisted that I should do his make up. It was because I was with the Margi Kathakali School for the past 38 years as visiting professor and manager, he used to come and teach the students there,” says Somadas about his connections with the late Krishnan Nair.
Kathakali makeup colours are made from extracts of vegetables and herbs. The concoction made with colours and coconut oil is what donates such dramatic effects to kathakali characters. Somadas’ handmade ‘kathakalikkoppu’ (kathakali crown) is also famous. He claims the materials he uses for making frames such as cane and peacock feather are not commonly used. “I have not learned to make ‘kathakalikkoppu’. Instead, I come up with novel methods to make it and there are many takers for it,” says Somadas.
In his 47-year-long kathakali journey there is no country Somadas has not visited. His first visit outside of India was in 1978 when he went on a world tour with MKK Nair’s Udyogamandal. Since then he has not looked back.
“I was awestruck at the response we received at other countries. It is quite amazing to see how people respect our art, it is much more than what we receive from here,” says Somadas.
He has many memorable moments to recollect from his foreign tours. Interacting with Rajiv Gandhi and the then Japanese President during a Japan tour is one such event.
“When you are outside the country you and every other person is the same. I have taken photographs with Rajiv Gandhi on one such occasion,” says Somadas.
Percussions in kathakali are as inimitable as its ‘padams’ (songs). Somadas’s skill in chenda also has been proven many a time.
Dedicated to the art form, Somadas has chosen his life partner from a well-known kathakali family. His wife Saraswathi Amma is the sister of Inchakkad Ramachandran Pillai, the current principal of Margi Kathakali School in the city.
Hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, Somadas prefers to stay in the city and impart his knowledge to those who love the art form. He has many disciples to his credit.