Kalamandalam Gopi's Nala is a masterpiece of the thespian who has graced many a stage with this role. His performance as Nala at the Sree Paramekkavu Devaswam Agrasala, Thrissur, lived up to the expectation of fans who had come to see the performance.
The evening began with a traditional purappad and melappadam with four Krishna veshams on stage. ‘Pakuthy Purappad,' not staged often these days, was enacted by Kalamandalam Neeraj, Aravind, Kasinathan and Vipin. Kalamandalam Hareesh, Kalamandalam Parameswara Marar (chenda) and Kalamandalam Hariharan (maddalam) supported the actors.
‘Nalacharitham Onnam Divasam' was staged after the 90-minute purappad and melappadam.
The first part of Unnayi Warrier's masterly work narrates how Nala falls in love with Damayanthi after listening to Narada's description of her looks and virtues. Damayanthi was also drawn towards Nala, after hearing tales of his valour and looks. A lovelorn Nala manages to convey his love for her with the help of a swan. After getting Nala's message, an ecstatic Damayanthi declares that she would only marry Nala.
Exemplary act
The septuagenarian Gopi came up with an energetic act while performing padams such as ‘Bhagavan Narada...vandeham…' and ‘Kundina nayaka nandinikkothoru pennilla mannil.' His manodharma attams, though evocative and aesthetic, stayed within the traditional format.
Oyoor Ratheeshan appeared as the swan. Son of the legendary Kathakali actor, the late Oyoor Kochugovinda Pillai, he proved himself as the swan, a role that was immortalised by his father. Kalamandalam Shanmughan re-lived Damayanthi on the stage as he enacted the emotional dilemma of the young princess who was longing to know more about Nala. Kalamandalam Arun Warrier (Narada) and Kalamandalam Sucheendranath and Kasinathan (Damayanthi's friends) were the other artistes. Kalanilayam Unnikrishnan and Kalamandalam Vinod rendered the music while the percussive support was rendered by Narayanan Nambissan and Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan.
Tale of Jarasandha
‘Rajasuyam' followed ‘Nalacharitham Onnam Divasam.' An excerpt from the Mahabharatha, ‘ Rajasuyam' centres on Jarasandha. It shows Jarasandha recalling his past and narrating it in a vibrant manodharma attam. Afterwards, Lord Krishna, Bhima and Arjuna, in the guise of Brahmins, challenge him to a duel. Jarasandha chooses to fight Bhima and gets killed by the Pandava prince. Kalamandalam Ramachandran Unnithan, a veteran of Thadi veshams, playedJarasandha. Although he is a product of the Kalluvazhi style in Kathakali, his kalasams and performance style bore the imprint of the Southern style as well. It was during the padam ‘ Bhoosurasiromanikal nimgal...' in raga Saramgam and the duel that the veteran came into his own. Kalamandalam Neeraj enacted Bheema.
Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair's Sisupalan was the last act in the play. The scene depicted how the arrogant Sisupalan is killed by Lord Krishna. Kalamandalam Raman Nambudiri and Kalamandalam Sasi were the performers on the chenda and the maddalam respectively.
The plays were staged in connection with the anniversary celebrations of Trichur Kathakali Club. Senior Kathakali musician Kalanilayam Unnikrishnan was given the Dr.K N Pisharodi memorial award.
