Chakyar Koothu to be staged at Thamaramkulangara
TRIPUNITHURA: The Ammannur Schools of Chakyar Koothu will put up a performance at the Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharma Sastha temple from Thursday. It is being held as part of the ongoing week-long Sapthaaha Yajnam.
Ammannur Rajneesh Chakyar, who represents the younger generation from the Ammannur School, will present two works of poet Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri.
The stories selected for this year’s performances are ‘Rajasooyam’ and ‘Kiraatham’.
Though the storyline is based on the epic, Mahabharatha, the special narrative style by the late Padmabhooshan Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar gives prominence to social criticism by exploring the dramatic moments.
‘Rajasooyam,’ the famous Sanskrit prose written by Bhattathiri, describes the most auspicious ritualistic moments at Indraprastham, the kingdom of the Pandavas.
The story goes like this: The Pandavas decide to perform a ritual with Lord Sree Krishna as the chief guest. Hearing this, Suyodhana, the eldest among the Kauravas, becomes furious and challenges the decision. Quoting some immortal dialogues from this part of the story, Chakyar compares the egoistic nature of modern man which frequently lands him in trouble. Chakyar also makes satirical remarks pinpointing selected viewers from the audience.
At this particular juncture the distinctive line between the performer and the listener fades in the satirical atmosphere, filled with the ripples of mirth.
‘Kiraatham’ is yet another story from Mahabharatha which satirically describes the setbacks faced by Arjuna just because of his overconfidence.
Here also Chakyar discovers the little known dramatic moments and relate them with the contemporary socio-political events.
Ammannur Rajneesh Chakyar who has already proved his talent in Prabandha Koothu will present ‘Rajasooyam’ and ‘Kiraatham’ in an entirely different style formulated under the strict guidance of his guru and grand uncle, the late Ammannur Madhava Chakyar.
Chakyar Koothu will begin at 7 pm on all days from May 5 to 8 on the temple premises soon after deeparadhana.