Ananya The Unparalled - From October 19 to October 23, 2010 Home Schedule Seminar Other Festivals Press Feedback Contact
 
One of the oldest theatre forms in the world, Kathakali originated in what is now Kerala. It combines spirituality and skill with symbolic storytelling to create a vibrant and powerful form of drama. Several dancers play characters from stories or themes of Hindu mythology, particularly the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. An attractive make-up code, elaborate costume and a highly developed language of gesture make Kathakali a stylized dance form. Literally meaning 'story-play', Kathakali dates back to, perhaps, the 17th century. The form flourished for several generations among a learned and appreciative audience in Kerala before nearly succumbing in the early 20th century to loss of royal patronage and arrival of the British. Poet Vallathol Narayana Menon and Mukunda Raja, a member of the royal family, together founded Kerala Kalamandalam and revived this art form. Time was when only men performed in the dance-drama. They would dress up as women and wore a distinctive make-up to portray female characters. A traditional performance begins in the evening and continues through the night, concluding at dawn heralding the victory of good over evil. The light, the vocal accompaniment and drums set the tone for an extraordinary experience: the actor becomes the epic character to unveil primordial moods and transport the audience to a world beyond the mundane.

Sadanam Balakrishnan (Kerala) - Kathakali - 21 October 2010 (Thursday)

Initiated by Guru Kondiveetil Narayanan Nair under the patronage of late Brahmashri Kurumathur Narayanan Namboothiripad, Sadanam Balakrishnan was deeply interested in Kathakali since childhood. Born in 1944, Shri Balakrishnan trained intensively for a decade under famous gurus Thekinkattil Ramunni Nair and Keezhupadam Kumaran Nair at the Gandhi Seva Sadan Kathakali Academy. During his training under the outstanding contemporary Shri Keezhupadam Kumaran Nair, he blossomed into a fine artiste and competent teacher. Outstanding in his ability to slip into important Kathakali characters with skill and ease, Shri Balakrishnan has been acclaimed highly by both the media and the audience. He is rated as one of the most outstanding teachers in this discipline today and is much sought after by Indian and foreign institutions and artistes for conducting workshops, lecture-demonstrations and recitals.

Presentation

Narakasuravadham, from the Bhagavat Purana, is one of the frequently staged pieces in the Kathakali repertoire.
At the request of Indra to be delivered from the atrocities of demon king Narakasura, Shri Krishna mounts the divine bird Garuda and heads for Pragjyotishapuram, the capital of Narakasura. His consort Satyabhama also accompanies him. Vivida and the five-headed Murasura are the two militant companions of Naraka, who is the son of Bhudevi. The demon has been blessed with a boon that none but his own mother will be able to kill him. A terrible battle ensues between Krishna and Naraka. Krishna is on the verge of defeat. Just then Bhama, the reincarnation of Bhudevi, takes away Narayanashastram from Naraka and enables Krishna to kills him with his Sudarshana Chakra. He slays Murasura while Vivida – also defeated – runs away. Krishna crowns Naraka’s son as heir apparent and gives protection to 16000 women prisoners of Naraka by accepting them as his wives. Krishna receives a grand welcome in Dwaraka as people celebrate the victory of light over darkness.