NEO - CLASSICAL DANCES

This page describes about Kerala neo-classical dances and some traditional dances

Chavittunatakom

MEENAKSHI NATAKOM

Krishnattom

Krishnattam, is another form of dance drama enacted in Guruvayoor Temple depicting the frolics and divinity of Lord Krishna. The traditional performance lasts for eight days and covers the whole span of Krishna's life from his birth to 'Swargarohanam' (ascension to the heavens) Orchestral accompaniments are Maddalam, Ilathalam and Chengila. The visual effect is enhanced by varied and colorful facial make-up with larger-than-life-masks, made of lightwood and cloth padding, for certain characters. The characters that do not wear masks have specific facial colours. The predominant colours used are dark green, flesh tint and deep rose. Most of the characters wear red vests and flowing 'Uthariyams'. The characters of Krishna, Arjuna and Garuda wear dark blue vests.

Oppana

A dance form of the Malabar Muslims preformed during a wedding. It is an all girls' performance in the bridal chamber. Maidens sing and dance around the bride. The Songs of Mappilappattu, are first sung by the main singer and are repeated by the chorus. The themes are often teasing comments and innuendoes about the bride's anticipated nuptial bliss. Today, Oppana is one of famous performing art presented as a stage item.

Kakkarissi natakom

Kakkarissi natakom is a satirical dance-drama based on the puranic legends of Lord Siva and his consort Parvati when they assumed human forms as Kakkalan and Kakkathi - a nomadic tribe of fortunetellers. The script is a blend of Tamil and Malayalam. The chief characters are Kakkalan, Kakkathi, Vetan, Velichappadu, Thampuraan and the ubiquitous Jester. The Dholak, Ganchira, Chenda and the Harmonium provide the background score

Thullal

Thullal is a solo performance combining the dance and recitation of stories in verse. Staged during temple festivals, the performer explicates the verses through expressive gestures. The themes are based on Indian mythology. This satiric art form was introduced in the18th century by the renowned poet Kunchan Nambiar. Humour, satire and social criticism are the hallmarks of Thullal. The Thullal dancer is supported by a singer who repeats the verses and is accompanied by an orchestra of mridangam or thoppi maddalam (percussions) and cymbals. There are three related forms of Thullal - Ottanthullal, Seethankanthullal and Parayanthullal - of which the first is the most popular. The three are distinguished by the costumes worn the performer and the length of the verses.

Ottanthullal

Ottanthullal is one of the most distinguished of all the Thullal arts. The origin of Ottanthullal is really interesting - Kunchan Nambiar, the drummer, was playing Mizhavu for Chakyar koothu. One day, against all precedence, he happened dozed off by sheer inactivity caused by a prolonged talk by the Chakyar after a recital of poem that needed the rhythmic support. When the Chakyar abruptly started reciting another lyric, having had no rhythmic response from the drummer looked back and found him dozing. He not only got him up but also ripped him down by humiliatingly sarcastic comments and jokes on his person. Nambiar hanged his head in shame and silently walked off. Instead of crying over the incident in self-contempt, he sat through the whole night, with a vengeance, and wrote a poem depicting an episode from Mahabharatha in a never-to-fore metric and rhythmic pattern. He also devised a special kind of dance for its exposition. The legend is that he presented it the very next evening at the same temple where he was humiliated on a different platform at the same time the Chakyar had begun. By the novelty, wittiness, enjoyableness and acridity of the programme he attracted all the audiences that had surrounded Chakyar to his show. It was the birth of a new art form that he named as "Ottanthullal". Impressive costume down the waistline and colourful crown are copied from Kathakali, with slight variations. Ornaments are made up mainly of tender leaves of coconut and beads. It is a solo dance with the artiste himself singing the verses to the accompaniment of Mridangam and timing with a refrain repeater singing in the background. Usually the performance lasts a couple of hours

Chakiarkoothu

Koothu is a socio-religious art performed in the Koothambalam or the Koothuthara of temples, either independently or as part of Kootiyattam. Chakar Koothu is a mono-act mainly among the upper caste Hindus. It is a solo narrative performance interspersed with mime and comic interludes. . The Chakar (Actor) acts the role of all the characters, to the accompaniment of the "Mizhavu" played by the Nambiar and the Cymbals by the Nangiar. He recites the scriptural poem narrating the stories from the epics (The Ramayana and The Mahabharata), and annotations with witty and humorous examples and anecdotes. There are different versions of Koothu. Some of them are Nangyar Koothu - performed by the Nangiars or the female members of the Chakkiar community. This a solo dance drama centered on the legends of Sree Krishna The art form is performed in temples like Vadakkumnatha temple at Thrissur, Sri Krishna temple at Ambalappuzha, Koodal Manikyam temple at Irinjalakkuda and Kumaranalloor temple at Kottayam

Theeyattu

Theeyattu is a solo dance-drama performed in front of the Kalam or Dhooli Chitram (ritual drawing with coloured powders). It is enacted in some Bhagavathy temples of Thiruvalla, Kottayam, Thripunithura and neighboring areas. The ritual starts with the invocation of Lord Ganapathy, Lord Siva and goddess Saraswathy, after which the performer dons a crown smaller but similar to the one used in Mudiyettu. The most popular story narrated through a Theeyattu performance is that of the duel between goddess Kaali and the demon Daarikan. The dance form is usually performed by a small group of temple bound communities called the Unni. Theeyattu is still a ritual offering made every Friday at the Pallippurathu Kaavu temple near Kottayam town.