PERFORMING ARTS
Experience the Soul of Kerala: Live Performances
Paava Kathakali - Traditional Glove Puppet Theatre
Probably born in the 18th century, one hundred years after the blossoming of kathakali (lit. “story play”). Performers from the Andipandaram community belong to a small number of families from the Paruthippuly village in the Palghat (Palakkad) region. Their ancestors appear to have emigrated from Andhra Pradesh during the 14th century to establish themselves in Kerala.
In performance here is the Kalyana Sougandhikam, an excerpt from the Mahabharata. A rare flower, the kalyana sougandhikam, is blown into Draupadi’s hands by a stray wind. She is enamoured and wants more. She asks her husbands, the five Pandavas, who laugh it off as a childish whim, all except Bhima. Bhima is the strongest of the Pandavas. In his mind, he is the strongest of all men. Of all the Pandavas he is the closest to Draupadi and fulfils every ask of hers. Bhima sets off in search of the rare flower. As he climbs the mountain he comes across an old monkey blocking his path. The old monkey says he is too frail to move, can Bhima help move him. This is a small task for the great Bhima. But he is unable to lift the tail of the monkey. After several tries Bhima realises this is no ordinary monkey. He bows to him and asks his forgiveness, upon which the monkey transforms to the glorious Hanuman, his older brother. This is the story as told by Vyasa and enacted by the artist.
In-house shows are held regularly and on request.
Tholpaavakoothu: Shadow Puppetry
Immerse yourself in the ancient art of Tholpaavakoothu, Kerala's traditional shadow puppetry performed using leather puppets, depicting stories from Hindu mythology. Witness captivating narratives unfold, brought to life by skilled puppeteers against the backdrop of our serene riverside setting. The performances are based on the Kamba Ramayana, with the story divided into segments for presentation over several nights. The performances are accompanied by traditional musical instruments like the Chenda and Maddalam.
In-house shows are held regularly and on request.
Mizhavu Melam: Percussion Ensemble
Feel the vibrant energy of a traditional Mizhavu Melam. This powerful percussion ensemble enthralls with its dynamic shifts in speed, intricate rhythms, and resonant tones. Mizhavu, a large copper drum, is the central instrument. The mizhavu is unique for being played solely with the hands, without any sticks or mallets. "Melam" refers to a orchestral performance in Kerala
In-house shows are held regularly and on request.
Ottam Thullal: Medieval Standup Act
The day was not going well for Nambiar. He had come to the court of the Ambalapuzha king in the secret hope that the king would like his poetry, his wit but nothing was going as he expected. He wiped the sweat off his brow and ran towards the temple. He had been asked to play the Mizhavu, temple drums, for the Chakyar Koothu performance. He was no expert but who would say no to the king? The Chakyar was known to be a ruthless task master. Poor Nambiar, little did he know the day was about to get worse. Tired, disheveled and despondent Kunchan Nambiar drummed out of rhythm on the majestic Mizhavu and then slumped while the Chakyar performed the Koothu. When an irate Chakyar turned to see why the drum did not sound he saw a slumped and snoring Nambiar. He then made Nambiar the butt of his jokes for the rest of the evening. Kunchan Nambiar felt it deep. It cut to the bone. That night he wrote the Thullals, based on the Ramayana and Mahabharata but in colloquial Malayalam not the inscrutable Sanskrit, with wit and satire he wrote about the pomp and cruelty of the upper castes, incompetence of the military, intrigues of the courtiers, silliness of the astrologers, advent of Western nations and their interference. He held up a satirical mirror to society. The unique dance form was full of rhyme, beauty of sound, depth of thought and rich humour. The next day, Kunchan Nambiar took his stand opposite the performing Chakyar. People were intrigued by this man’s quaint costume and this intriguing new dance drama. They came to watch out of curiosity but were hooked by the wit and turn of phrase. Uproarious laughter filled the temple. Thus was Ottam Thullal born.
In-house shows are held regularly and on request.
Mudiyettu: Ritualistic Folk Dance Drama
Mudiyettu, a ritual dance form, is a once-in-a-year spectacular festival happening at the Bhagavathi temple in the village. Defined by UNESCO as a ritual dance drama based on the mythological tale of a battle between the goddess Kali and the demon Darika, it is a community ritual in which the entire village participates. Kali, wearing a headgear of about 30 kilos, face painted intricately, exaggerated bust, and with a temple sword, has to be brought out from the inner sanctum onto the ground. The temple drummers whip her into a frenzy, the priests carrying torches blow fire into her face, and the entire village boos & jeers her onto the ground. The drama has lighter moments too. Guligan is a favorite among kids for his clown-like antics, & sagely smiling grannies nod at Narada, whispering gossipy tales to Shiva. The play reaches its crescendo when an enraged Kali slays Darika and balance is restored to the universe. Shrieking kids pelting marigold flowers at Kali, a frenzied Kali rushing at people with her sword, it's way past midnight, but the village is awake and thrumming with excitement.
Held in April every year at Edeyetu Kaavu Temple, Puthenvelikkara
Pulluvan Paattu: Songs of the Snake Gods
Experience the evocative melodies of Pulluvan Paattu, indigenous folk songs dedicated to Kerala's snake deities. Accompanied by the haunting sound of a single-stringed violin, these ancient hymns create a unique and spiritual atmosphere. Pulluvan pattu is not just a form of entertainment; it's a ritualistic practice deeply embedded in the culture of Kerala. Men (Pulluvan) and women (Pulluvathi) both participating in the singing and playing of instruments.
In-house shows are held regularly and on request.
