Nepathya's November programme

Nepathya, Moozhikkulam is paying homages to the memory of the late Guru Ammannur Parameswara Chakyar, who passed away recently. The function will be held on November 29, 2008 at the Koothambalam of Nepathya at Moozhikkulam at 6 pm in the evening.

The meeting will be followed by a Kutiyattam performance by Nepathya Vishnuprasad. He will present 'Chithrayodhi's Purappad,' (Entry) from 'Asokavanikankam,' Kutiyattam.

On November 30th, Dr. Indu G. will present a Nangiarkoothu performance. She will perform 'Jarasandha Yuddham.' The venue will be the same, the Koothambalam of Nepathya. Accompaniment will be provided by Kalamandalam Ratheesh Bhas, Kala. Anoop, Nepathya Jinesh and Kala. Manikandan (mizhavu), Kalanilayam Rajan (edakka) and Indu G. and Nepathya Anjana (thalam). Chutti (make-up) will be by Kala. Satheesan. Margi Madhu is the guru of the performances and Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar, the Acharyan.

Waswo X.Waswo's show opens

Waswo X.Waswo's exhibition, 'A Studio in Rajasthan,' opened at Kashi's Bazaar Road gallery on November 15, Saturday. The exhibition has both photographs and miniature paintings. Both are results of 'collaborative work,' done by him and a group of local artists from Rajasthan, informs Waswo. He uses the word 'collaborators,' to denote the artists who translate his ideas into concrete visual forms. Rakesh Vijay, the miniaturist, executes Waswo's fantasies and imaginations into the miniature format that is so familiar and natual for him. Rajesh Soni, another youngster hailing from Udaipur, where Waswo had been sojourning for some years now, diligently hand-paints the black and white prints of Waswo's 'staged' portraits. He is from a family of photocolourists and is proud to be taking his inherent talent into a totally new, and creative arena.

Given above is one of Waswo's hand-coloured photographs; a perfect piece of collaborative work.

Ammannur Parameswara Chakyar passes away

Guru Ammannur Parameswara Chakyar, Kudiyattam performer and the eldest member of the Ammannur Chakyar Madhom, passed away at his residence at Irinjalakuda on Saturday, November 16, 2008. He was 93 and was ailing for the past couple of months.

Elder brother of the late Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar, Parameswara Chakyar was a staunch traditionalist who refused to perform outside the traditional performance spaces of Kutiyattam within the temple precincts. An adherent to the traditional system to the core, Parameswara Chakyar had performed only within the Koothambalam-s. He had performed at Koodalmanikkyam Temple, Irinjalakuda, Sree Vadakkunnatha Temple, Thrissur, Thirumandhamkunnu Temple, Vayalar Siav Temple adn Ilamkunnappuzha Temple.

Son of Kalleli Thamarappilly Thrivikraman Namboothiri and Ammannur Savithri Illodamma, Parameswara Chakyar was trained by his uncle, Ammannur Chachu Chakyar. His arangettam was held at Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikkyam Temple. He had also received training in various subjects under guru-s including Kallankara Narayana Pisharody, Kidangoor Rama Chakyar, Kodungalloor Bhagavathar Kunjunni Thampuran, Thekke Warrieth Eashwara Warrier and Achunni Karthavu.

He had been honoured with the Fellowship of the Kendra Sangeetha Nataka Akademi in 1980. He had also received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi in 1983. He is survived by his son Kalamandalam Rama Chakyar (former head of Kutiyattam Department, Kerala Kalamandalam) and Prof. Parameswara Chakyar (Vaidyarathnam Ayurveda College, Ollur).

Kalidasa Smrithi and performance of 'Sakuntala' Kutiyattam

Natana Kairali celerbated the 'Kalidasa Smrithi,' on November 2, 2008 at Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi's Natyagriham at Thrissur. Natana Kairali has been exploring the possibilities of presenting the dramatic texts by the legendary ancient poet Kalidasa in the format of Kutiyattam. The work has been going on for almost ten years now.

In course of the research process, Natana Kairali presented Kalidasa's 'Abhijnana Shakunthalam,' and 'Vikramorvaseeyam,' as full length Kutiyattam performances. 'Sakuntala,' based on 'Abhijnana Shakuntalam,' was produced in 2002, with 'Vikramorvaseeyam,' in 2004. In 2008, a Nangiarkoothu performance titled 'Seetha,' which was based on 'Raghuvamsham,' was also produced.

'Sakuntala,' had been performed all over the world both in part and in complete format. The complete performances from 'Nandi,' to 'Bharathavakyam,' were presented in Italy, Torino (Italy) Geneva, Tokyo, Sicily (Italy) and Lyon (France). The complete performances last from 9 to 11 hours.

The next international tour of 'Sakuntala,' begins in the first week of November, 2008. The venues in this tour are Theatre de Caen, France (on Nov.8), Roma Europa Festival, Rome, Italy (on Nov. 13, 14, 15 and 16), Antwerpen, Belgium (Nov. 20), Utrecht (Nov. 21), Den Haag, (Nov. 22) and Amsterdam (Nov 23). At the Roma Europa Festival, the whole play will be presented during three days, in three parts. On November 16, the entire play of 7 hours and 30 minutes, with an intermission of three hours, will be presented. The schedule will be from 2.30 p.m.- 5 p.m. / 6 p.m. - 8.30 p.m. / 9.30 p.m. - 12 midnight.

The 'Kalidasa Smrithi,' was addressed by Dr. Sukumar Azheekode, Dr. K.G.Paulose, VC, Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed University, Nagamandalam Raghavan, Director, DD Kendra, Thrissur, Dr. Balashankar Mannath, Director, Kutiyattam Kendra, Thiruvananthapuram,Prof. George S.Paul, G.Venu and Nirmala Panikker. The meeting was followed by a performance of selected portions from Act V of 'Sakuntala,' Kutiyattam, with Sooraj Nambiar (Dushyanta), Ammannur Rajaneesh Chakyar (Sarngaravan) and Kapila Venu (Shakuntala).