Six Kathakali veterans together with three girls reunite after 20 years for a efficiency in Kasaragod

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Hymavathi Raveendran, Child Nair, Okay Kunhambu Nair, Karthiyani Muniyoor, Ramakrishna Nambiar and Raghunath Kanuthur practising for his or her efficiency on January 7.
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Twenty years after her final recital, 68-year-old Hymavathi Raveendran will apply chutti (facial make-up of Kathakali) to play Lord Krishna of Kuchelavritham Kathakali on January 7.

“Happiness!” says Hymavathi when requested about how she feels about returning to the stage.  “There may be nervousness because the years have passed by. I hope we’re capable of dwell as much as expectations however the dominant feeling is of pleasure.”

Hymavathi Raveendran, Baby Nair, K Kunhambu Nair, Karthiyani Muniyoor, Ramakrishna Nambiar and Raghunath Kanuthur with debutants Savitha Kodoth, Sauramya Saiju and Anjal Vipin.

Hymavathi Raveendran, Child Nair, Okay Kunhambu Nair, Karthiyani Muniyoor, Ramakrishna Nambiar and Raghunath Kanuthur with debutants Savitha Kodoth, Sauramya Saiju and Anjal Vipin.
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It’s a special day for Hymavathi, Child Nair, Okay Kunhambu Nair, Karthiyani Muniyoor, Ramakrishna Nambiar and Raghunath Kanuthur, all senior residents who started studying Kathakali in 1964 due to an initiative of Cheviri Gopalan Nair (CG Nair), an avid follower of the artwork kind, to carry Kathakali to his village.  

“In these days, or for that matter even now, Kathakali was and isn’t all that standard in Kasaragod. My father, CG Nair, used to go to locations the place Kathakali was staged to look at recitals,” recollects Hymavathi.

Cheviri Gopalan Nair

Cheviri Gopalan Nair
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Within the Malayalam month of Karkidakam (June-July), Gopalan Nair used to go for the customary therapeutic massage with medicinal oils. The masseur used to remain of their home at Bethupara, in Konadukkam, a small village in  Kasaragod. “Lots of the masseurs was once Kathakali artistes and that’s when our home used to return alive with Kathakali performs within the evenings. As soon as they left, my father would once more should journey to look at performances,” recollects Hymavathi.

That’s when he considered getting his solely daughter skilled in Kathakali. “So far as I do know, it was a time when girls had been by no means seen on the Kathakali stage. All feminine roles had been performed by males. That observe didn’t dishearten my father,” says Hymavathi.

He invited Govinda Panikkar Asan, who used to return to their home, Malyiekkal, for chavatti thadaval (massaging with ft) to change into Hymavathi’s guru on the age of 11. She will need to have been the primary lady to change into a pupil of Kathakali in that area. He additionally requested neighbours to ship their youngsters to study Kathakali.

Hymavathi Ravindran (right) and Baby Nair when they performed Lavanasuravadham.

Hymavathi Ravindran (proper) and Child Nair once they carried out Lavanasuravadham.
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“It was unprecedented in these occasions. I realized Kathakali together with Karthiyani Muniyoor, a cousin, and among the boys close to our home,” recounts Hymvathi.

 Motivated by their performances, a couple of youngsters started studying Kathakali at Kundoochi, one other village within the neighbourhood. Ramakrishnan and Raghunath are from that group.

Hymavathi Raveendran.

Hymavathi Raveendran.
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Sreejith recollects that his mom had final carried out Kuchelavritham 20 years in the past, a couple of weeks earlier than CG Nair’s demise. Within the meantime, Sreejith shifted from Mumbai to Tripunithura, the place Kathakali performances are incessantly held. In actual fact, it’s the residence of the primary all-women Vanitha Kathakali Sangham.

CG Nair and Hymavathi Raveendran as Krishna.

CG Nair and Hymavathi Raveendran as Krishna.
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  “Amma remains to be a eager fan of Kathakali and by no means misses a recital if she can assist it. So, when she got here to Tripunithura, she was capable of watch a couple of programmes,” says Sreejith.

Did she meet the artistes of the Vanitha Sangham?

“Sure, I did. However I didn’t inform them I’m a performer too,” she laughs.

Seeing her curiosity in Kathakali, Sreejith motivated his mom to go on stage once more.  Hymavathi agreed however she needed to do it within the firm of the artistes she had learnt Kathakali with. Nonetheless, two of them had handed away, bodily illnesses prevented a few of them.

However, Sreejith persevered and managed to get six of the veterans collectively for this memorable event.

Becoming a member of the seniors are Savitha Kodoth, Sauramya Saiju and Anjal Vipin who can have their arangetram. “Three of them are studying Kathakali and will likely be performing for the primary time,” says Sreejith.  

The artistes will carry out excerpts from Kuchelavritham, Kalyanasaugandhikam, Lavanasuravadham and Duryodhanavadham at ASAP group Ability Park Auditorium, Vidhyanagar, Kasaragod, at 6.30 pm.    

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