Koodiyattam dancer Salini
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association
Salini VG is as a lot comfy with phrases as she is on stage. When the Koodiyattam performer and Assistant Professor, English literature at Ottappalam NSS School, determined to do her Ph.D, she knew intuitively what she wished it to be. “As a Koodiyattam performer, I’ve at all times been fascinated by the feminine narratives within the artwork kind, and I wished to do some severe examine on the house Koodiyattam provides ladies,” she says.
Her exploration into the topic, nevertheless, took her past her doctoral thesis to writing a guide, Kutiyattam: Evolution of its Feminine Custom, which was printed lately. “Although I’ve an insider’s perspective, there was a lot extra to check and perceive. It was a deep dive into the nuances of the artwork kind, its practitioners and methods,” she provides.
Salini VG throughout one among her Koodiyattam performances
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association
Whereas the guide traces the feminine custom by the historical past of the Nangiars (the nangiar koothu is an offshoot of Kutiyattam, carried out completely by ladies), it additionally sheds gentle on the narrative practices of Koodiyattam. Salini devoted years of analysis for the undertaking — going by manuscripts, watching stay performances and interviewing eminent ladies performers, all of whom have contributed to the artwork kind in their very own distinctive methods.
A 2,000-year-old conventional artwork kind, Koodiyattam at all times allowed ladies to carry out feminine characters. “Ladies held vital roles on and off the stage — as performers and narrators even throughout early occasions. Few different historic artwork varieties gave ladies such company. This was a lot earlier than Western theatre began desirous about using ladies actors on stage,” she says. “Koodiyattam has ladies as exterior narrators, too,” Salini explains. “The invocatory slokas are delivered by them. These ladies must know the story, the sequence, and the slokas — they kind the spine of the efficiency.”
Being veteran Koodiyattam artiste Kalamandalam Girija’s daughter gave her a bonus. “I grew up watching my mom and different artistes carry out and I received an early peek into the world of legendary characters and theatrical language. My guru is my mom. Although she was a strict instructor, it’s from her that I imbibed my ardour for the artwork kind. She is totally dedicated to her artwork,” provides Salini. Girija, who was the coed of Painkulam Rama Chakiar, who performed a key position within the renaissance of the artwork kind, has gained a number of awards together with the one from the Sangeet Natak Akademi and is understood for her portrayal of male characters as effectively.
Salini at a Mohiniyattam recital
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association
Salini, who additionally learnt Mohiniyattam whereas rising up, enjoys performing it as effectively. “Whereas I like Mohiniyattam, I have a look at Koodiyattam with a touch of reverence,” she says. Salini is the receipient of the Centre for Cultural Sources and Coaching scholarships for Mohiniyattam, and is an ICCR (Indian Council of Cultural Relations) empanelled artist of Koodiyattam. Her job as a professor has not clashed together with her stage commitments, relatively they complement one another, she says. “As an assistant professor, I’m a useful resource individual introducing and delivering lectures on Indian aesthetics and Rasa concept in academia,” she says.
A dancer/performer is consistently translating an expertise by her eyes, face, breath, voice, and physique, provides Salini. “Her complete being needs to be current. If, as an illustration, she is an imaginary mountain, the viewers have to have the ability to see the mountain by her – the peaks, the valleys and its total kind,” she says.
The guide is for individuals who have a tutorial curiosity in Koodiyattam — it delves into the historical past, explains the rituals, the narrative construction, and contains excerpts from the interviews with modern performers. “Placing collectively all the knowledge was an enriching expertise,” says Salini, who, apart from her personal compositions, is engaged on a guide on Nangiarkoothu.
The guide, printed by New Bharatiya E-book Company, priced ₹500, is accessible on Amazon.
Revealed – September 29, 2024 09:51 am IST
