Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar will declare Vellinezhi village as ‘kalagramam’ at a function to be held at Government Higher Secondary School, Vellinezhi, on April 19.
M B Rajesh MP will unveil the portrait of Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, the Padma Bhushan-winning Kathakali exponent who died recently, at the function. Thripulamunda Nataraja Warrier, the retired maddalam teacher of Vellinezhi HSS who donated `5 lakh from his retirement benefits to build an open air auditorium in the school, will also be honoured at the occasion.
After the declaration, procession will be taken out from Vellinezhi Junction to Vellinezhi Higher Secondary School. Cholliyattom, daffmuttu and panchavadyam performances by known artistes in the respective fields will add hue to the procession.
“A cultural directory of the art forms and artistes in the area is being prepared as part of the programme. Vellinezhi Achuthankutty, a Kathakali researcher, has been entrusted with the preparation of the directory. It is estimated that
there are about 1,000 artistes and 25 art forms in Vellinezhi, home to the Kalluvazhi Chitta of Kathakali,” said district tourism promotion council secretary Padmakumar.
“The proponent of the Kalluvazhi Chitta of Kathakali was Itti Raarishan Menon. The other artistes who popularised the this style of kathakali are Pattikanthodi Ravunni Menon, Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair and Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair,” Padmakumar added.
He said that if the land was given free of cost by the panchayat or individuals, the government has agreed to build a cultural centre at Vellinezhi. Padmakumar said they will request the Tourism Minister to appoint kathakali teachers at Vellinezhi Govt HS School.