Kerala - Kochi

Mastering the chemistry of acting

When C.K. Saneesh, a young chemist hailing from Chengamanad in Ernakulam district, stepped into the realms of Koodiyattom, the centuries old classical theatre form of Kerala.

He performed his arangettam in Koodiyattom last week at the Nepathya Centre for Excellence in Koodiyattom. Saneesh, who is working as a chemist at Travancore Cochin Chemicals Ltd., has been under the tutelage of Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar and Margi Madhu at the centre for the past two years.

He become enamoured of the Sanskrit theatre form while working as a chemistry instructor at the Centre for Science in Society, the Cochin University of Science and Technology. Though Saneesh was selected for doing research at the Oxford, he could not go to the United Kingdom. He then decided to focus on the intricacies of Koodiyattom. Although he began learning the art form quite late in life, this artiste managed to pick up theacting techniques quickly.

The artiste, in keeping with the tradition, portrayed the role of the Suthradhara in Bhasa's 'Balacharitham.' The arangettam lasted for two days.The function had a special guest — Farley P. Richmond, a scholar in Koodiyattom, Professor, the Department of Drama and Theatre, and Director of the Centre for Asian Studies, the University of Georgia, Athens. The arangettam was performed in the koothambalam, the traditional space for performance within the precincts of the temple.
Renu Ramanath

(The Hindu, Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006)

Kerala

150 artistes to be honoured on November 1

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies, Thripunithura, is organising a percussion festival, 'Melotsavam,' on November 1, to mark the State formation day.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, programme general convener P. Vasudevan said the festival would begin with a `Kombu Pattu' in which 51 artistes would participate, to be held at Layam Ground at 3 p.m. It would be followed by `Pandi Melam' in which over 150 artistes would participate, a public meeting felicitating the artistes and major set `Panchavadyam' with more than 75 artistes. The meeting would be inaugurated by Sebastian Paul, MP. Kerala Kalamandalam vice-chairman A.S.N. Nambisan would deliver the keynote address.

Masters of percussion including Thevan Theradippurath, Velappaya Chandra Marar, Thripunitura Pappu Asan, Kadavalloor Thami, Unni Dayanandan, Thripunithura Thankappa Panicker, Pilakkattil Thami and Kottappadi Devan would be felicitated at the function.

The 'Kombu Pattu' would be led by Varavur Manikandan. Karukutty Sasi would lead the 'Pandi Melam' and Kalamandalam Chandran would lead the 'Panchavadyam.'

The festival aimed at promoting the rich tradition of percussion and questioning the conservative tendencies prevailing in the field. Honouring of artistes who belonged to marginalised sections of society was also an objective, the organisers said.

(The Hindu, Friday, October 27, 2006)