Kathakali With A Difference Created History

Pulse

oi-Suparna Chakaraborthy

By Suparna Chakaraborthy

Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 12:56

As many as 150 Kathakali dancers created history in a rare performance combining the well-defined 'mudras" of the classical dance-drama with the time-tested 'asanas" of meditation for the first time in the history of the art form.

The Kathakali dancers who staged the event at the Putharikandam Maidan in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday night are also seeking an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for their performance.

The captivating display of Kerala"s celebrated dance form was held in the presence of Art of Living founder His Holiness Guruji Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The event, called 'Natyavismayam", was organised by the Art of Living Foundation as part of its attempt to promote Indian classical arts.

Choreographed and led by eminent Kathakali exponent Ettumanur Kannan, the Kathakali dancers gave life to the subtle asanas" and the devotional mood of Art of Living"s meditation through classical mudras" (gestures) and well-defined rhythmic movements, giving a life-time experience to the vast number of art-lovers and HH Gujuji"s devotees present.

For the first time in the history of Kathalki, the 150 artistes attired in colourful costumes of all the five classic 'veshas" (make-up), namely 'pachcha", 'kaththi", 'thaadi", 'kari" and 'minukku", moved in unison to take the appreciation of art-lovers to higher levels. It is this unique performance which led the them to the possible entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. As many as 16 well-known Kathakali musicians, accompanied by percussion players on traditional instruments, added to the electrifying atmosphere.

The 'Natyavismayam" organisers said observers from the Guinness Book of World Records were present on the occasion. The observers videographed the entire dance, they said hoping the event would soon get a place in the record books.

“It was an attempt to express the subtle nuances of 'dhyana" (meditation) through existing 'mudras" of Kathakali. It was an effort to interpret 'dhyana" as Art of Living is also basically a form of 'dhyana"," according to team leader Ettumanur Kannan.

HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar honoured eminent Kathakali artistes Padmasree Madavoor Vasudevan Nair, Nelliyodu Vasudevan Nampoothiri, Kalamandalam Gangadharan and chenda exponent Kalamandalam Raman Nampoothiri on the occasion of 'Natyavismayam".

Apart from HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and leaders of the Art of Living Foundation, Union Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal was also among those witnessed the performance. A special song written on HH Guruji"s visit by lyricist Shibu Chakravarty, composed by national award-winning Malayalam musician Ouseppachan and sung by playback singer Gayatri and team, set the tone for the event, which culminated in 'Anantholsavam" of HH Guruji.

During the event, HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar urged the people to dream of a slum-free and scam-free India and work towards this goal by taking a pledge against bribery. “Spirituality gives you a sense of belongingness, honesty, love, friendship. Thus the spiritual power eliminates corruption," he said.

HH Guruji arrived on a six-day visit to Kerala on February 11, as part of the Art of Living Foundation"s 30th year celebrations, which will culminate in a grand ceremony in Berlin, Germany in July. HH Guruji has a vast following in Kerala.

During the last two days of his visit, he met the fishermen of Kanyakumari and blessed a high-level conference on corporate mergers and corporate social responsibility organised by Artis Capital Services in association with the Chamber of Commerce, Thiruvananthapuram.

He also attended a seminar on organic farming and safe food organised by Art of Living Foundation in association with NABARD and the State Horticulture Mission. An exhibition is also being set up at Putharikandam Maidan on the theme 'organic farming and safe food".