Ranga Shankara Fest '10: Kuttiyattam (day 10)

At more than 2000 years old, Kutiyattam, the Sanskrit theatre form from Kerala is the oldest known form of theatre. It has a highly stylised and complex theatre language replete with elaborate traditional hand gestures and facial expressions. Recently, UNESCO declared Kutiyattam as a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity".

Kutiyattam is performed mainly by the descendents of the Chakyar community. Despite cultural pressures in the twentieth century, the community produced exemplary hereditary actors who kept the tradition alive, including the legendary Ammannur Chachu Chakyar, Painkulam or Koyappa Rama Chakyar, Mani Madhava Chakyar, Ammannur Madhava Chakyar, and Moozhikulam Kochukuttan Chakyar. In an exemplary move to propagate the art, it is now being taught to any student keen on learning it.

Natana Kairali -- Research and performing Centre for Traditional Arts was founded by Gopal Venu in 1975. Natana Kairali is the focal point of many artistic activities both in the traditional and contemporary spheres. Out of the 103 performances of Abhignana Sakuntalam so far, 15 have been presentations of the whole play over nine hours, performed over three days (three hours a day). But in the Romaeuropa festival in Rome (Nov '08) and at the Sallepleyel in Paris (Jun '10) the full play was staged on a single day over 9 hours.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Kuttiyattam
• ranga shankara
• sanskrit
• abhijnana shakuntalam
• malayalam
• natanakairali
• kerala
• bangalore
• classical
• theatre
• festival