Demon-slayers and mythological heroes are part of this year’s International Koodiyaattam and Kathakali Festival.
Celebrating the ancient and highly structured classical performing arts from Kerala, the ninth edition of IKKF runs from tomorrow to Saturday and is packed with drama, dance and music.
As well as four plays featuring the classical dance kathakali, there will be a performance featuring the traditional percussion thayambaka and a display of nangiarkoothu – a women-only offshoot of koodiyattam, the oldest surviving form of Sanskrit theatre, dating back 2,000 years.
The dance: Kathakali
Organisers, Traditions Live, bring some of the most exciting acts under the theme “Kottayam Kathakal” (Kottayam Stories), written by Kottayam Thampuran, a 17th-century Kerala ruler credited with giving the grammar of kathakali its current form.
“Thampuran was himself a passionate Kathakali actor,” says Sreeni T S, one of IKKF’s organisers. “His four plays, based on the Indian epic Mahabharata, form the backbone of kathakali training and performance to this day. They will be staged in their pristine form here.”
The plays
Wednesday Bakavadham (Slaying of demon Baka)
The story of the mighty prince Bheema, who kills the demon Baka. The play will feature two kathakali heavyweights: Kavungal Divakara Panicker as Baka and Kalamandalam Balasubramanyan as Bheema.
Panicker, 66, is one of the foremost kathakali actors, renowned for performing villainous roles, while Balasubramanyan has been a teacher and the head of department and principal of the famed Kalamandalam centre for arts in Kerala for 32 years.
Thursday
Kalyanasowgandhikam (Fragrant Flower)
The highlight here is the entertaining exchange between monkey-god Hanuman, who plays a prank on a haughty Bheema. Kalamandalam Manojkumar plays Hanuman, while Kalamandalam Shanmughadas takes on the role of Bheema.
Friday
Kirmeeravadham (Slaying of demon Kirmeera)
This tale begins with demoness Simhika luring Queen Draupadi into the forest with the intent of taking her to the demon Kirmeera.
The interaction between the two women alone offers a brilliant example of classical theatrics, but eventually leads to the valorous Bheema slaying Kirmeera. Featuring Panicker as Simhika and Haripriya Nampoothiri as Draupadi.
Saturday
Kalakeyavadham (Slaying of demon Kalakeyan)
While the series concludes with Prince Arjuna defeating the demon Kalakeyan, the highlight here is the celestial nymph Urvashi seducing Arjuna, whose role is performed by Balasubramanyan. Shanmughadas portrays Urvashi in this play.
The theatre: Nangiarkoothu
Evolved from the Sanskrit theatre of Koodiyattam, nangiarkoothu has been proclaimed by Unesco as part of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
The festival brings renowned artist Usha Nangiar, who will portray Draupadi, the strongest female character in the Indian epic Mahabharata.
She will bring to life three important phases in Draupadi’s life during three days of performance.
Nangiar, who has brought innovation to nangiarkoothu, is credited with portraying characters such as Draupadi and Mandodari (demon king Ravana’s wife) for the first time in living memory, breaking traditional constraints.
The music: Thayambaka
The festival nights will come alive with the rhythms of popular traditional Kerala percussion ensemble performances featuring the chenda (drum) and elathalam (cymbals). Veteran artist Panamanna Sasi and the rising star Chirakkal Nidheesh will perform intricate rhythmic patterns and beats on their chenda and will join forces on the last day of the performing arts festival to present a double thayambaka as the perfect finale.
• IKKF is at GEMS Wellington International School in Dubai from Wednesday, December 2 until Saturday, December 5. For a full schedule of events, visit www.traditionslive.org/ikkf-2015-schedule
artslife@thenational.ae
