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Thullal
dance becomes popular among GenX
by Juhan
Samuel
Kochi
(Kerala): An old Kerala dance form, Thullal, is
making a comeback. It is finding favour with Generation
X. This 18th century dance form had almost disappeared
from the traditional stages in temples, but now it
is on a revival mode. The word Thullal belongs to
the Dravidian family of languages which literally
means 'jumping'. This however can be extended to mean
'to leap about' or to 'cut a caper'. In the past,
Thullal usually depicted social conditions, class
distinctions, socio-economic weaknesses or the whims
of the rich and the poor. It was performed in temples
during festivals which provided entertainment to thousands
of people. The popularity of Thullal
form of art has now picked
up, especially among the younger generation, and artists
are more than grateful for the good bookings they
are getting throughout the year. Focusing on the young
generation, a young artist, Praveen Prabhakaran, said
the young generation is showing a keen interest in
Thullal. "Since, we have performed in various places,
this art form is now excepted to be known by people.
People are coming forward and showing great interest
in it. Instead of pop, rock and other new generation
dance and music, masses are going back and have developed
a liking for such primitive art forms," Prabhakaran
said. Senior artists like Kalamandalam Prabhakaran
are fully engaged to revive this art form who went
through rigorous training for four years and continues
to perform this art form. To popularize this art form,
he is busy traveling abroad. "People especially in
foreign countries like Switzerland and Germany are
liking it. Even though they do not understand the
language and style, they still enjoy and show interest
in this dance very much," he said. To make it more
popular, Prabhakaran has also taught this art to his
son and daughter. The dance is supported by two musicians,
one of them plays the Maddalam, a drum and the other
small cymbals. Both musicians are also expected to
sing along with the dancer. No stage or any other
formal arrangement is required for the performance.
Thullal is also a genre of poetry in Malayalam. It
is significant that the work is composed in metres
that later became the norm for Thullal poetry. This
seems to indicate that the songs for Thullal dance,
at least in their structure, took their inspiration
from a model that was already available. Though the
Thullal dance, as we know it, came into existence
less than 200years ago, the roots of its verbal component
can well be traced to at least one century earlier.
Thullal is said to have been organized by Kunjan Nambiar,
a veritable genius and one of the foremost poets of
Kerala. Oral history records that Kunjan Nambiar accompanied
the Chaakiaars on the drums when they performed their
heredictary occupation of dance and drama. One day,
during a temple festival, when Kunjan Nambiar was
playing the drum for a Chaakiaar, he made a mistake.
This incensed the Chaakiaar so much that he publicly
took him to task. Crestfallen, Nambiar quietly left.
Seething inwardly with anger however, he returned
the following day when the same Chaakiaar was performing.
Attired in a manner that itself was enough to attract
attention, he presently began to sing and dance. In
no time the audience turned around only to lose itself
in Nambiar's antics, leaving the Chaakiaar without
spectators.
There
are three different types of Thullal, classified according
to the metre and rhythm of the songs sung in each
one and the differences in constume and dance. They
are Ottan Thullal, Seethankan Thullal and Parayan
Thullal. The precise interpretation of the labels
Seethankan, Parayan and Ottan is not clear, but the
difference in the styles relates mainly to the metre
of the poetry, the place of the singing, and the costume
and adornment of the performer. Thullal uses no curtain
for entries, exists or scenes, nor is there a formal
seating arrangement. As is the practice with all of
Kerala's performing arts a lighted bell metal lamp
is installed in the front of the dancer, even if the
performance is held during the day. Though not strictly
observed now, Parayan Thullal was generally presented
in the forenoon, Seethankan in the afternoon, and
Ottan after dusk. Thullal presentations generally
last for two hours and are rendered at a pitch and
pace that keep on lookers thoroughly gripped. The
dancer dances and sings simultaneously and this entails
a long period of rigorous training, an agile body
and a communicative voice. The dancer must also be
gifted with a sharp memory, for he must remember long
poems, some of which have over 1,000 couplets. Once
memorized, it is left to the dancer's discretion what
to take from a poem, he must link lines and relate
them tothis theme in order to convey the literal meaning
as well as his owninterpretation of each poem.
-
October 8, 2005
Kathakali
school trains the young
by KS
Ashik
Vellinazhi
(Kerala): Kathakali is a 500-year old dance form
of Kerala. A training school in Vellinazhi perpetuates
the traditional art famous for its unique dress and
style. It trains youngsters and prepare many renowned
artists for more than two centuries. The Nanu Nair
Smaraka Kala Kendra, in a nondescript village, has
gained popularity as the "music village" of the State
due to its residents' love and devotion to the art
of dance and music. Achuthan Kutti, the President
of Nanu Nair Smaraka Kala Kendra says that it's the
village's history in the field of Kathakali that accounts
for its fame. "This is the most famous village for
the Kathakali dance which is the classical art dance
of Kerala. And the tradition is that most of the people
who have become renowned in this field hail from this
village. It stands true almost for the last 250 years.
And all the stalwarts that have come out in Kathakali
- dancers, drummers, musicians, all belong to this
place," says Kutti. The institute itself, named after
a stalwart in the field of Kathakali, has as many
as 60 students studying the different art forms. Being
the only dance school in the village, the institute
provides lessons in Kathakali--the oldest classical
dance-drama of Kerala and playing of the traditional
drums known as Chenda. Rhythmic beats resonate from
a small thatched house where lessons are regularly
imparted to a small group of boys and girls who rigorously
strike at stone blocks with their sticks as part of
their practice lessons. Students at the academy aspire
to make it big one day. "I am learning vocals and
the chenda instrument in this institute. I want to
keep up the name of the institute by achieving something
in this field and I want to be a big artist," says
Sowmya, a student.
The Kathakali music which includes two drums-Chenda
and Maddalam, along with cymbals and the ela taalam,
a percussion instrument, not only provide the beats
for the dance but add to the expressiveness of the
performance. Besides, the institute also lays emphasis
on other aspects of the art form such as the brilliant
and artistic make-up used by the artist to symbolise
the nature of the characters, an important feature
of the dance. The make-up consists five main parts--Pacha,
Kathi, Kari, Thaadi, Minukku (green, knife, black,
beard or jaw, and polish)--the nature of the character
determined the colours used. For instance green is
used for noble males, green with red marks on the
cheeks for characters with high birth with an evil
streak, black for the forest dwellers and hunters,
yellow for women and red for the extremely angry and
evil characters. Kathakali, originated over 500-years
ago in Kerala, a combination of dance, drama and music.
It is a group presentation. The artists adorned in
elaborate costumes with painted faces unfurl tales
from Hindu mythology through performances of rigorous
body movement and footwork. These are accompanied
with hand gestures and facial expression to convey
their messages. Traditionally, a Kathakali performance
begins in the evening and continues through the night
till the break of dawn, which is considered the hour
when good conquers evil.
-
October 5, 2005
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