MUDRAKHYA

Due Apologies

2008-06-05T00:36:00.002-04:00

Mudrakhya Festival 2008 remains cancelled, due to unforseen circumstances. It was postponed as informed on 16th May, but later came in the confirmation of cancellation.

Mudrakhya festival -2008

2008-04-24T08:11:00.000-04:00

May 20th to 26th; 7 days, round the clock, will be "The Mudrakhya Festival-2008", devoted to Sri. Kalamandalam Gopi. Kathakali stories and other allied art forms complimented by academic sessions like seminars and discussions and also exhibitions.Venue : MD Ramanathan Memorial Auditorium, Music College, Palakkad-"KUNJU ETTAN NAGAR".

Major Programme

Over 350 artistes, 34 stories-99 hrs. of Kathakali - Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Kalamandalam Gopi & the whole ensemble of senior and junior artistes from all parts of Kerala will participate.

Felicitations by the public.

Precession.

Conferring 'The Kunju Ettan Memmorial Award.'

Open Forum.

Reunion of the members of the Old Kalamandalam 'Minor set'

Ottantullal - Kalamandalam Prabhakaran (21-05-'08)

Mohiniyattom - Pallavi Krishnan ((21-05-'08)

Tullalpada Kacheri - Aayamkudi Tankappan Nair (22.05.'08)

Sangeeta Kacheri - RAjesh Menon (23.05.08)

Koodiyattom - Padmasree Madhava Chakkyar Gurukulam - 24.05.'08)

Taayampaka - Kalamandalam Balraman (25.05.'08)

Natyasamanwayam - Kalamandalam Gopi & V.P. Dhananjayan (25.05.'08)

For details and updates keep observing this blog. contact:-Capt. (Rtd) P.S.G. Nair at 9447835658., P.Radhakrishnan at 9447178424., P. M. Narayanan at 9446509961., K. Sasi, Ramanathapuram, Puthur, Palakkad at 9447254113., P.V.Prasad at 9447333232 7 Korattikara Hari at 9447087575. Emails:- sasiputhur@gmail.com., info@sterlingeventsindia.com

Kunjuettan has gone behind the 'Live-Tirasseela'

2008-02-17T14:15:00.000-05:00

"Kunjuettan, despite any duration of acquaintance with him, is often been placed on a high pedestal deep within anyones heart, for both what he has been and what he could be. His presence and mannerisms during any kathakali programme have always etched his presence felt in fathoms of our thoughts.
Ways of destiny at times descents with a swirl, blasting ones hopes and sentiments. May be we are immature to comprehend such ways of the nature.
However, the cleft of separation occured on 09.02.2008, is painful to any ordinary sensitive human being, which all of us are. Yet, trickling tears will be an injustice to his dynamic soul. Hence, we must collect together and accrue his spirit and enthusiasm to give a dynamic face-lift to Mudrakhya, in the days to come. That will be the greatest, functional tribute to our dear departed Kunjuettan."
Seeking his blessings and advice from the neither-worlds,
Pranaams at His solemn feet.
(Members of Mudrakhya)

Who said 'Katakali doesn't pull a large crowd'?

2008-02-17T00:15:00.000-05:00

On 22.02.2008, Mudrakhya staged Duryodhanavadham, from 9.00pm to 12.30 pm, at the Sree Subrahmanya Temple, Valiyapadam, Palakkad. Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair, as Duryodhana took the crowd by a storm..he was in his elements ......... powerful and dramatic. Kalamnadalam Mohan as Dussasana, Kalamandalam Narayanankutty as Sakuni, Trippayya Peetambaran as Draupathi, Kala. Kuttykrishnan as Radrabheema did absolut justice to their roles. Kalamandalam Mohanakrishnan, Dr. Vellinezhi Achithan kutty, Kalamandalam Vijayakrishnan, Kuttu & other professionals provided the orchestral ambience needed for the show. AND .... WHO SAID ... "KATHAKALI DOESN't PULL A LARGE CROWD?"
Looka the two sections of the crowd.... over 600...not thinning till the end of the show.

An All Senior Lavasuravadham - 23.02.2008, at Pamberipaara

2008-02-16T23:14:00.000-05:00

Pamberipaara is a rocky beauty, a bit off the Kongad - Pathrippala road, in the Palakkad district. The Subrahmanya temple atop the tallest, yet flat rock, was the venue for a rare combination of artists in presenting 3 scenes from Lavanasuravadham. Veteran Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair known for his innimitable proficiency in enecting any senior character opted to do Kusha, along with Kalamandalam Narayanankutty who did the role of Lava. Two non-professional performing enthusiasts Dr. C.P. Unikrishnan and Trippayya Peetambaran respectively did the roles of Hanooman and Seeta. Captivating vocal tones were rendered by Kalamandalam Mohanakrishnan & Dr. Vellinezhi Achuthan kutty, supported on Chenda by Kalamandalam Vijayakrishnan and on madhalam by Kalluvazhi Jinesh. Prabhakaran Pilla, with his expertise in chutti gave the needed face-lift to all the male characters. Kalatarangini, Cheruturuthi, provided the costumes.

Kathakali At Pallassana Temple & Lec De At the PMG Higher Secondary School, Palghat.

2006-10-14T23:26:00.000-04:00

Presented Nalacharitham Third Day & Kiratham at the Pllassana Vettekkaran Temple on 13.10.2006. This was an offering by T. Sunil, one of the team workers of Mudrakhya. Cast - N Cahritham - Bahukan - Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair; Sudevan - C.P. Unnikrishnan; Damayathi - Trippayya Peetambaran; Karkkodakan - Kalamandalam Pramod; Rithuparnnan - Kalamandalam Narayanankutty (Vellinezhi); Jeevala & Varshneya - Kala. Abhimanyu &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Amaldev. Kiratam - Kiratan - Kalamandalam Manioc; Arjunan - Kal. Narayanankutty; Kirathi - Abhimanyu; Siva - Kala. Pramod; Sreeparvathy - Amaldev. Singers - Kottakkal Madhu, Vellinezhi Achuthankuttyy, Kal. Rajnarayanan & Prasad. Chenda - Kottakkal Prasad &amp;amp;amp;amp; Kottakkal Vijayaraghavan; Maddalam - Sreejith Marar & Dinesh. Chutty - Kayyandam Neelakantan &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Prabhakaran Pillai; Costumes - Appunny Tarakan & Party (Manjutara, Mangode). Programme managers - K. Sasi, & T. Sunil.

An introductory lecture demonstration by the above team was presented at the PMG H S School, Palghat, at 2.00 Pm, following the inauguration of the school's cultural activity club that was formed to introduce Kerala's rich art forms to the students. The session was inaugurated by Dr. C.P. Unnikrishnan, Academic section, Mudrakhya.

ANUAL DAY CELEBRATIONS

2006-09-22T21:49:00.000-04:00

Mudrakhya will celebrate its first Annual day at the Chembai Smaraka Sangeeta College Auditorium on 24.00.2006. The veteran Kathakali actress, Smt. Chavara Parukkutty Amma will be honoured in the meeting session at 5.30pm, in the presence of N. Radhakrishnan Nair (former secretary, Kerala kalamandalam), Capt. C.G. Nair, K.B. Raj Anand (Secretary, Vazhekida Kunju Nair Trust), P.M. Narayanan, T. Sunil & K. Sasi. Natyacharya Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair will be the chief guest. 'Nizhalkuthu" the well-known episode from Mahabharatha will enrich the full-night Kathakali presentation. Cast- Kala. Harinatayan (Duryodhana), Kala. Vaisakh (Doota), Olarikkara Manojkumar (Malayan), Chavara parukkutty ammma (Malayathi), Kala. hari R. Nair (Mantravaadi), Kala. Vaisakh (Kunthi), Kala. Pramod (Krishna), Jishnu Manoj (Manikantan). Songs: Kottakkal Madhu, nedumbulli Rammohan & Dr. Vellinezhi achithankutty. Chend; Sadanam Ramakrishnan & Kottakkal Vijayaraghavan. Maddalam; Kala. Rajnarayan & Sreejith Marar. Chutti: Kala. Sivaraman, V. Prabhakaran Pilla & Kala. Nikhil. Costumes: appnny Tharakan & assistants of Manjutara, Mangode. Team Managers: K. Sasi & T. Sunil.

ASHTAMIROHINI CELEBRATION

2006-09-22T21:35:00.000-04:00

Mudrakhya presented "Santaanagopalam" Kathakali, at the Chinmaya Mission temple, Palghat on the Ashtamirohini day (27.08.2006), Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair as Brahmin, Ezhakkad Hari as Arjuna, Dr. C.P. Unnikrishnan as Krishna & Vellinezhi Narayanankutty as Brahmanapatni. Dr. Vellinezhi Achuthankutty, Athppatta Ravi (Singing), Kalamandalam Vijayakrishnan (chenda) Sreejith Maarar (maddalam) provided the orchestra. Parabhakaran Pilla and Lenin did the chutty work & Manjutara (Mangode) provided the costumes. K. Sasi & Sunil were the presentation managers.

Devageetam - Kottakkal Vasunedungadi Anusmaranam

2006-07-08T23:15:00.000-04:00

A scene from the story, 'Santanagopalam' presented by Mudrakhya as a part of the "Kottakkala Vasudevan Nedungadi Anusmaranam -Devageetam" programme presented on 01.07.2006, at the M.D. Ramanathan Memorial auditorium, Palakkad. - Krishnsn (Peesappally Rajeev), Arjuna (Kottakkal Kesavan) & Brahmin (Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair). Keechakavadham & Baalivadham were the other stories presented. Over 125 artistes participated in the night-long show.

The day devoted to recall the life and contributions of the kathakali music vocalist, late Vasunedumgadi was his 89th birthday. The day-long celebrations were inaugurated by Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair in the session presided over by Kalamandalam Kesavan. Music, dance and scholarly talks enriched the day.

MUDRAKYA FESTIVAL - 2006

2006-06-03T22:58:00.000-04:00

The 25^th of May ushered in the monsoon with cool showers; the swift breeze cooled down the heat of anxiousness that attested the slightly delayed commencement of the Mudrakhya Kathakali Festival at the M.D. Ramanathan memorial auditorium, Govt. Music College, Palaghat. The veteran kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair inaugurated the festival in the auspicious session presided over by Prof. Palakkizhu Narayanan, which followed the welcome address by P.M. Narayanan. Despite the general feeling that Kathakali shows a declining trend due to its elaborate and extensive performance and the dearth of dexterous performers, the authentic speakers assured of a modified, yet a bright future for kathakali. Mudrakhya has been playing a silent dynamic role in contributing to this facet of the kathakali culture. Incidentally, this festival is a solemn tribute to the well-known connoisseur T.M. Ganapathy (Kunju ettan), as his 60th birthday celebrations. The forenoon session ended with vote of thanks proposed by Capt. P.S.G. Nair. Kunju ettan being felicitated by Kalamandalam raman Kutty Nair.

The afternoon session began with a scholarly session by Dr. T.N. Vasudevan, who delved deep into the intricacies of the rhythmic syllables of Kathakali music. Peesappaally Rajeev (vesham) Kalamandalam Mohanakrishnan and percussionists enriched the demonstration part. The captivating Carnatic music recital by Moorthiyedam Pramod (vocal) Prof. R. Swaminathan (violin) & M.S.N. Sudhakaran (mridangam) was followed by the full night Kathakali performance. The stories were Pootanamoksham, Karnasapatham, Seetaswayamvaram, Ambareeshacharitam & Duryodhanavadham.

The second day commenced with a lec-dem by M.S. Parameswaran on Kathakali music and other schools of music, which was followed by another lec-dem by P.M. Narayanan assisted by Manoj. The evening twilight was imbrued with a melodious kathakali musical concert by Kottakkal Madhu & babu Nambootiri (vocal), Kalamandalam Krishnadas (chenda) Kottakkal radhakrishnan (maddalam) & Kottakkal Sasi (Edaykka). To add the visual flavour, the early night was adorned by the Mohiniyattom recital by Vineeta Nedungadi who highlighted conditions of the eight amorous heroines of Bharata’s natyasastra, towing in the lyrical thread underlying Tagore’s Geetanjali. The day was seen to the next dawn by another kathakali session, the stories being Kuchelavritham, Nalacharitam (second day) & Narakasuravadham.

Kala. Nandakumaran (chenda) Sreejith (maddalam) contributed to the audio-visual components of the lecture delivered by Dr. T.S. Madhavankutty, who elucidated the aesthetic nuances of the techniques of Patinjapada abhinayam (presentation of the lyrical compositions extremely slow tempo species). K.B. Rajanand, assisted by Peesappilly Rajeev, presented a lec-dem on the Kalaasams in kathakali, that form punctuations and the pure dance syllables in Kathakali.

Dr. C.P. Unnikrishnan who spoke on the science and aesthetics of facial makeup and costumes converted the session into a discussion and brainstorming sequences involving the veteran artists like Kalamandalam Shivaraman, Kayyandam Neelakandan, Appunnitharakan and others.

In the felicitation session Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair presented T.M. Ganapathy the traditional medal, wishing him long life and his continued ubiquitous presence in the field of kathakali. K.K. Diwakaran (MLA) was the chief guest.

Ettumanoor Kannan presented “Showryagunam” a sequence from Mhabharata in which Bheema expresses his wrath to Yudhishtira and describes how he would slain the wicked Dussasana.

The grand finale of the three-day long festival concluded with the nightlong performance of the kathakali-stories,Rugmineeswayamvaram, Kirmeeravadham (Lalita), Bakavadham (asari) and the second par of Dakshayagam. On all the three days all the Kathakali artistes ranging from Kalamandlam Ramankutty Nair to the junior most student of Kalamandalam participated in the Kathakali shows. The appended phtograph shows a scene from the the story, Dakshayagam. Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair as Daksha & Kottakkal Devadas as Veerabhadra were par excellent in their roles.

The crowed drawn in, ignoring the downpours, felt an echo of vacuum while leaving the M.D. Ramananthan Memorial auditorium as the twilight broke on the fourth day dawn.

Kathakali at Vellinezhi

2006-04-14T19:59:00.000-04:00

Mudrakhya presented a full night kathakali programme at Vellinezhi, Palghat district, Kerala, India, on 14.o4.2006. the stories were Kalayanasaugandhikam & Dakshayaagam. Malayala Manorema reported the same 0n 19.04.2006 in its Palakkad page. This was a part of Vishu celebrations at the Devi temple, Chenganikkottu kaavu, in Vellinezhi. Kalamandalam Appunni Tharakan & Rama Tharakan, who won this year's award given by the Kerala Kalamandalam, were honournered by Mudrakhya. The accomanying picture was published by Malayala Manorema, a scene from Kalayanasaugandhikam- Sadanamam Manikantan as Bheema & Abhimanyu as Draupathi.

2006-04-02T16:58:00.000-04:00

Mudrakhya presents at the Nalussery temple, Erumbilassery, Palghat district - Kathakali - Kalyanasaugandhikam & Duryodhanavadham with Karnashapatham. Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair, Kalanilayam Gopalakrishnan, Kalamandalam Manoj, Dr. C.P. Unnikrishnan etc. 9.30 pm on
04.04.2006

On 06.04.2006, 9.30 pm at the Sree Ramaswamy Temple, Tiruvilwamala - Kuchelavritham, Karnasapatham & Baalivadham - Kalamandalam Ramachandran, Kalamandalam Manoj, Ezhakkad Hari, Dr. C.P. Unnikrishnan etc.

Lecture Demonstration & Kathakali at The Chembai Smaraka Music Collge - 26h February 2006

2006-04-01T20:04:00.000-05:00

As a part of its educative procedures Mudrakhya organises regular appreciation courses. On 26.02.2006, from 10.00 am to 11.00 am, a detailed study of the hand-gestures (mudras) used in Kathakali, based on the text , "Hasthalakshanadeepika" was done. Dr. C.P. Unnikrishnan demonstrated the mudras related to nature and related objects & incidents, which was the content specified for this month's class. Sri. Pullanikkad Narayanan rendered the necessary narration. The scope of utilising and innovating mudras were also touched up on, with few examples, in response to the questions from the audience.

Following the Lec-Dem, there was a short presentation of kathakali, that included 3 secenes from the story, Rugminiswayamwaram. The story & the nuances involved were expalined in sufficient details which enhanced the aesthetic comprehension. Incidentally, 26th February happend to be the auspicious Sivarathri Day.