Kalamandalam Pradeep and Pesepilli Rajeevan during rehearsals the old Man and the SeaOn the right is director Neeraj. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangements

Ernest Hemingway Nobel Prize Winner the old Man and the Sea Will soon get a Kathakali version Shakespearean plays and, more recently, Spanish classics Don Quixote Cervantes, has been adapted into the art form, but this is probably the first time that a modern popular tale is being given a Kathakali makeover.

Actor Kalamandalam Neeraj, who is directing and choreographing the play, says: “Kathakali is popular among sections of theater lovers across the world, but we wanted to pitch it to a new audience interested in modern fantasy. Would like. What we are trying to do is to translate the novel into the language of Kathakali. There will be no compromises – the structure, costumes and dance movements will strictly follow the Kathakali structure and syntax called Kalasam,” says Neeraj.

According to Pesapilli Rajeevan, a Kathakali actor, who plays the part of Samudra: “I believe that a major difference between Indian and Western theater and dance is the aesthetic approach. Indian art forms give more importance to the face and eyes whereas in the West, it is mostly dialogue and physical body movements. We want to project the Sattika Abhinaya aspect of Kathakali to a new younger international audience. ,

Neeraj also wants to challenge or investigate the notion that Kathakali is a “true” art form and should not be coddled with. “Kathali emerged from elements of Koodiyattam, Padayani and the like, but it seems stuck in so-called perfection. We want to explore how the abstract ideas of a modern literary work can be expressed through the idiom of a classical art form like Kathakali,” he explains.

“We see Kathakali as theater and believe that it can be enhanced by using features that were unavailable when Kathakali was conceived. For example, lighting has a lot of potential. We know how it enhances the experience in modern theatre, and wanted to explore that,” says Neeraj.

However, there are challenges that may require innovative solutions. Although descriptions of mountains and forests and oceans are common on the Kathakali stage, the ocean appearing as a character has no parallel. Presenting such an inanimate object as a character would require imagination and deciding on a costume would require innovation. Because, in Kathakali, the costume and make-up is dictated by the nature of the character—Pacha, Kathi, Thaadi and Minukku classify the characters as the great hero, anti-hero, villain and woman/ascetic respectively.

Mario Barzaghi from Italy, who plays the role of Santiago, as Parashurama in an earlier production. Photo Credit: Special Arrangements

Another interesting point would be the writing style. While Hemingway is known for his concise and realistic use of language, devoid of adjectives, Kathakali songs are usually flowery and descriptive.

The play’s writer Mohandas Romantha said that he started with the idea of ​​a single stage performance santiago“Later, we realized that the entire play could fit into the technical or grammatical aspects of Kathakali. So, we added characters to establish the richness of the ocean. We also added four killer sharks. ,

the old Man and the Sea There are only four main characters – Santiago the old man, the boy Manolin, the sea and a giant marlin. While Mario Barzaghi from Italy will play Santiago, Pespili Rajeevan will play Samudra. Kerala Kalamandalam students will play other supporting roles. Including vocals and percussion, the production may have a cast of 20.

Mario, actor and director of the Teatro dell’Albero in Milan, learned Kathakali from various gurus in Kerala Kalamandalam and gave his first performance in 1985. Mario has worked on a number of projects aimed at promoting artistic dialogue between East and West.

Peesappilly Rajeevan is also known for his innovative interpretations of epic characters from Mahabharata and Ramayana. He also dabbles in contemporary theatre. Neeraj, who is a choreographer, is a lecturer in Kerala Kalamandalam. His earlier production was KormapuranamAn adaptation of the fantasy of the rabbit and the hare.