Kerala - Kochi
Kalamandalam to stage Koodiyattam
The Bank Employees Arts Movement Ernakulam (BEAME) is bringing to town 'Bhagavadajjukam' Koodiyattam, an interesting play from the repertory of the classical Sanskrit theatre of Kerala performed by the troupe of Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthy.
The play, believed to be written sometime between A.D. 5th and A.D. 6th centuries by poet Bodhayana, is a 'Prahasanam' or farce. It deals with the hilarious situations arising out of a yogi's decision to trans-place his mind into the body of a courtesan who died of snakebite. The yogi, accompanied by his disciple Shandilyan, happened to visit a garden for resting in the midst of a journey. Shandilyan, who has no real interest in the ascetic way of life, is distracted by the presence of the courtesan and her maid. Suddenly, the God of Death sends his messenger to take away the courtesan's life. The messenger arrives in the form of a snake and bites her. As the courtesan falls dead, the maid runs away to get help.
At this juncture, Shandilyan prevails upon his guru to revive the beautiful girl at any cost. The guru, who maintains a disinterested air at first, has to take the step in order to convince the disciple of his prowess. With yogic powers, he lets his own soul enter the lifeless body of Vasanthasena, the courtesan.
By the time the maid returns with her mother, Vasanthasena is sitting up as if nothing happens. But she behaves oddly. It is in fact the soul of the guru who is speaking through the courtesan's words. The stunned mother and maid try to bring a physician, but even the physician is ridiculed away by the yogi speaking through the courtesan.
By this time, the messenger of Death returns to the scene. He has committed a mistake. It was another Vasanthasena who was destined to die that day. He is trying to replace the soul into the body of the courtesan, but instead, sees her sitting up and talking like an acetic. Perplexed, he puts the soul into the nearest available body, that of the guru lying inert nearby.
Immediately, he sits up and starts behaving like a courtesan. People are further perplexed, especially Vasanthasena's lover Ramilakan who is astounded with the guru making amorous moves at him.
Finally, the Messenger of Death appears again. Understanding his earlier mistakes, he replaces all the souls to their correct places.
This farce, poking fun at the ways of the world in an unapologetic manner, had been performed within 35 days earlier. Painkulam Rama Chakyar, the master performer who led the revival and modernisation of Koodiyattam in the Sixties, had reduced the performance to three hours, without losing out the essence.
The performers include Kalamandalam Sivan Namboothiri (Yogi), Kalamandalam Rama Chakyar (Shandilyan), Kalamandalam Girija (Vasanthasena), Kalamandalam Sailaja (Parabhrithika, the maid), Kalamandalam Sajitha (Vasanthasena's mother), Kalamandalam Sangeeth (Yamadoota) and others. Kalamandalam Easwaranunni, Kalamandalam Achuthanandan, Kalamandalam Sajith and Kalamandalam Vijayan will provide accompaniment on mizhavu, with Kalamandalam Balasundaran on Edakka. Kalamandalam (Margi) Sathi, Kalamandalam Prasanna and Divya will provide thalam.
The performance will be held on March 25 at Kerala Fine Arts Hall in the evening.
Renu Ramanath
(The Hindu, March 22, 2006)
Kalamandalam to stage Koodiyattam
The Bank Employees Arts Movement Ernakulam (BEAME) is bringing to town 'Bhagavadajjukam' Koodiyattam, an interesting play from the repertory of the classical Sanskrit theatre of Kerala performed by the troupe of Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthy.
The play, believed to be written sometime between A.D. 5th and A.D. 6th centuries by poet Bodhayana, is a 'Prahasanam' or farce. It deals with the hilarious situations arising out of a yogi's decision to trans-place his mind into the body of a courtesan who died of snakebite. The yogi, accompanied by his disciple Shandilyan, happened to visit a garden for resting in the midst of a journey. Shandilyan, who has no real interest in the ascetic way of life, is distracted by the presence of the courtesan and her maid. Suddenly, the God of Death sends his messenger to take away the courtesan's life. The messenger arrives in the form of a snake and bites her. As the courtesan falls dead, the maid runs away to get help.
At this juncture, Shandilyan prevails upon his guru to revive the beautiful girl at any cost. The guru, who maintains a disinterested air at first, has to take the step in order to convince the disciple of his prowess. With yogic powers, he lets his own soul enter the lifeless body of Vasanthasena, the courtesan.
By the time the maid returns with her mother, Vasanthasena is sitting up as if nothing happens. But she behaves oddly. It is in fact the soul of the guru who is speaking through the courtesan's words. The stunned mother and maid try to bring a physician, but even the physician is ridiculed away by the yogi speaking through the courtesan.
By this time, the messenger of Death returns to the scene. He has committed a mistake. It was another Vasanthasena who was destined to die that day. He is trying to replace the soul into the body of the courtesan, but instead, sees her sitting up and talking like an acetic. Perplexed, he puts the soul into the nearest available body, that of the guru lying inert nearby.
Immediately, he sits up and starts behaving like a courtesan. People are further perplexed, especially Vasanthasena's lover Ramilakan who is astounded with the guru making amorous moves at him.
Finally, the Messenger of Death appears again. Understanding his earlier mistakes, he replaces all the souls to their correct places.
This farce, poking fun at the ways of the world in an unapologetic manner, had been performed within 35 days earlier. Painkulam Rama Chakyar, the master performer who led the revival and modernisation of Koodiyattam in the Sixties, had reduced the performance to three hours, without losing out the essence.
The performers include Kalamandalam Sivan Namboothiri (Yogi), Kalamandalam Rama Chakyar (Shandilyan), Kalamandalam Girija (Vasanthasena), Kalamandalam Sailaja (Parabhrithika, the maid), Kalamandalam Sajitha (Vasanthasena's mother), Kalamandalam Sangeeth (Yamadoota) and others. Kalamandalam Easwaranunni, Kalamandalam Achuthanandan, Kalamandalam Sajith and Kalamandalam Vijayan will provide accompaniment on mizhavu, with Kalamandalam Balasundaran on Edakka. Kalamandalam (Margi) Sathi, Kalamandalam Prasanna and Divya will provide thalam.
The performance will be held on March 25 at Kerala Fine Arts Hall in the evening.
Renu Ramanath
(The Hindu, March 22, 2006)
posted by renuramanath at 10:13 AM
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