TRIPUNITHURA: Contrary to the conventional style in the Indian music where percussion instruments always accompany the wind or stringed instruments, in the typical Kerala melams, the wind instruments such as kurumkuzhal and kombu accompany the chenda. However, the unique wind instrument kurumkuzhal has a unique identity in the Kerala temples as they are used in kuzhalpattu.The night procession at Vrischikolsavam of the Sree Poornathrayeesa temple is an ideal stage for kuzhalpattu. Kurumkuzhal maestros Kombathu Anilkumar and Velappaya Nandanan are the prominent artistes who present kuzhalpattu in front of the aanakkottil . Besides, the structure of the kurumkuzhal is similar to that of shehnai. The playing style of kuzhalpattu has many similarities with the Hindustani shehnai.
The initial phase is like the aalaap in the Hindustani where there is no accompaniments in the solo concert. Yesteryear experts, including Pozhankandathu Raman Nair, had strived a lot to get an independent existence for this pipe. Though the greatest living exponent of kuzhalpattu is the Pallavur Award winner Kombathu Kuttan Panicker, his nephew Komabthu Anilkumar is the leading kurumkuzhal artistes at Vrischikolsavam, besides Kodakara Sivaranam Nair and Velappaya Nandanan. Usual ragas used in kuzhalpattu are Sankarabharanan and Gambeera Naatta. Amidst the pindrop silence in the Night Procession, the artistes will start with the aalaap. At Vrischikolsavam the duration of the aalaap will be in detail from the Thrikketta night procession onwards as more time is needed for Kaanikka offering. All this time, the kurumkuzhal artistes will elaborate a particular raga as a solo performance. Then some popular compositions like Himagirithanaye… will be presented.At the end of the nearly one and a half hour long recital, the chenda will joint along with the elathaalam at the concluding session. During the Vrischikolsavam, noted artistes like Velappaya Nandanan and Kombathu Anilkumar will play the kurumkuzhal and chenda maestros like Peruvanam Kuttan Marar and Peruvanam Satheesan will accompany on chenda and elathaalam players like Murali and others joint with the piper and drummer with his cymbals to provide basic rhythm. The most attractive element in kuzhalpattu is the serene ambience provided by the presence of the presiding deity accompanied by 15 caparisoned tuskers with all paraphernalia.
