‘Madurai Veeran Kathai’, staged by Kapila Venu on the not too long ago revived Kottichetham auditorium of Natanakairali, in Irinjalakuda.
| Picture Credit score: Picture Courtesy: Kapila Venu
Koodiyattam can’t alienate itself from Tamil or Tamizhagam, although it’s a Sanskrit theatre custom fashionable in Kerala. It’s believed that whereas Chakyars, the standard performers of this artwork kind, belong to Tamil Nadu, tales from the State have by no means been utilized in Koodiyattam.
Considered towards this backdrop, Kapila Venu’s newest choreography in Nangiarkoothu (an off-shoot of Koodiyattam carried out solely by ladies) – ‘Madurai Veeran Kathai’ – is a pathbreaker. The one-and-a-half-hour efficiency was offered by Kapila on the not too long ago revived Kottichetham auditorium of Natanakairali in Irinjalakkuda.
A warrior turned household deity
Madurai Veeran (warrior of Madurai) is a folks deity fashionable in Southern Tamil Nadu. The prefix to his identify is due to his affiliation with Madurai. He’s commemorated because the protector of the individuals of town. There are additionally many people songs, ballads and performs that describe his bravery.
Veeran was born right into a royal household however was deserted. Subsequently, he was adopted by a pair from the Arunthathiyar group. Rising up amongst them, he ultimately grew to become a guard within the court docket of Bommanna Nayakan. His fame introduced him to Madurai, the place King Thirumalai Nayakar sought his help to guard town from bandits.
Throughout his keep in Madurai, Veeran sees the royal dancer Vellaiyammal and falls in love. Vellaiyammal too will get drawn to him attributable to his placing character and proficiency in numerous arts.
One night time, Veeran disguises himself and meets Vellaiyammal and the 2 plan to elope. Nonetheless, he will get accused of treason and is subjected to extreme punishment and his limbs are amputated. Vellaiyammal, who witnesses this, decides to finish her life. However by providing prayers to Madurai Meenakshi, Veeran recovers and will get again his limbs. However ultimately Veeran, who believes it’s god’s will that he should die, beheads himself. After this, Thirumalai Nayakar constructed a temple for Veeran, who’s now worshipped by many communities in Tamil Nadu.
Kapila’s histronics and the nuances of Nangiarkoothu was delivered to the fore in her depiction of Madurai Veeran.
| Picture Credit score:
Picture Courtesy: Kapila Venu
Histrionics expertise
Kapila has choreographed her efficiency with an intention to focus on the key episodes that served to deliver out her histrionic expertise and methods distinctive to Nangiarkoothu. Her netrabhinaya was praiseworthy.
The sequence the place Veeran is accorded a heroic welcome in Madurai deserved particular point out. Additionally, her enactment of taking part in the nagaswaram, thavil, parai and the pambai was spectacular. The presence of two mizhavus and edakka added an edge to the efficiency.
Kapila, daughter of abhinaya exponent G. Venu, introduced out the subtleties of every character. Her face was like a canvas of feelings. The charis (gaits), peculiar to Koodiyattam, had been employed extra within the struggle sequences.
By way of the utilization of three couplets from Thirukural, which play a big position on this thematic manufacturing, Tamil appears to have change into part of the Nangiarkoothu repertoire.
Kapila Venu’s ‘Madurai Veeran Kathai’ carried out for the primary time in Nangiarkoothu type.
| Picture Credit score:
Picture Courtesy: Kapila Venu
Kalamandalam Rajeev and Kalamandalam Hariharan performed the mizhavu and Kalanilayam Unnikrishnan, the edakka.
