From Calivesham
Photo Credit: Abhirami

Amidst the piles of Kathakali plays, four parts of unnatural warriors Nalacharitam Brims with poetic intensity, dramatic subtlety and imagination. Near the wicked-soul Kali, King Nala loses everything including his kingdom in his life, and goes into the forest with his wife Damayanti. Kali is a major character Nalacharitam Part ii.

ExtendedThe playwright, director, poet and lyricist Kavalam Narayan Panikkar was fascinated by Kathakali actor Nelod Vasudevan Namboodiri, who played the role of black time and again on stage, contrary to his desire to present noble characters.

As a person, Vasudevan was soft. On stage as Kali, he was an avatar of vices. Narayan was in awe of this dualism and fed the play Calivesham, Who talks of unbreakable struggle between an actor and his character.

As a theater-director, Narayan took various inputs from the traditional performance arts of Kerala. Swadeshi music was also integral to his direction undertakings, and Calivesham There was no exception.

It was recently staged under the TDM Hall, Ernakulam, a cultural organization Aspis beam. The hero of the drama Gerason V. K Nayak depicted the prediction of a person surrounded by an innocent, righteous man/actor’s evil spirit, Kali. His behavior with his wife also becomes bizarre. But, the next moment, he feels it, and is full of remorse. Raja Nala and Damayanti also appear on the stage and the scene is near Kali with a drain. Kali and his companions Dwapara, appear in the forest in disguise of two birds, and fly with the only fabric worn by the drain. Similarly, the drain saved the snake Karkotak from the fire and the latter portrayed it poignantly. The acting techniques of Kathakali, Judiatam and Otanthulal were employed as a convenor.

Nayak Gersson V. Photo Credit: Abhirami

Lines from Kathakali Play Nalacharitam Was sung in Sopa-Style. Mizavu beats rhythmic support for actors’ movements and expressions. Thiresila (Curtain) Formed an effective dramatic equipment to cross the time and space organized by both actors.