Purushartham Koothu started at Kochi

Purushartham koothu, a rare performance in Koodiyattam started at Changampuzha Park, Edapally, Kochi on 28 May 2014. The event organised by Changampuzha Samskarika Kendram at Kochi in Kerala will continue till 01st of June. 

Purushartham koothu is a solo performance by one of the characters from the Koodiyattam stories - vidhooshaka.  During the performance he narrates the story and sattirically criticise the contemporory socio-political scenarios. Kalamandalam Rama Chakyar is presenting the event. 

Kathakali on 29 May 2014

PSV Natya Sangham is a Kathakali School by Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal in Malappuram district, Kerala. Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal is one of the pioneer institution in Ayurveda, the oldest and natural medicinal system of India.  

The Natya Sangham perform Kathakali nationally and internationally. The group has a performance at Punchaman Illam, Mavelikara, Kerala on 29 May 2014 at 07.00 pm. The play is based on the story, Rugmangada Charitham.

Kottakkal Kesavan Kundalayar

Cast and Crew involved are as below.

Actors
Kottakkal Kesavan Kundalayar (Rugmangadan), Vasudevan Kundalayar (Mohini)

Song (Pattu)
Kottakkal Madhu, Kottakkal Santhosh

Percussion

Kottakkal Prasad (Chenda), Kottakkal Raveendran (Maddalam)

Costumes & Make-up (Chutti)
Kottakkal Satheesan

Photo Courtesy: The Hindu

Kathakali, As an Intro to the Birth Centenary Celebrations

Kathakali performances organised by Edappally Sangeetha Aswaaka Sadassu, Edappally, Kochi 

in association with Kalivilakku, the organisation for arts, will take place on 24th and 25th of May 2014 at Changampuzha Park , Edappally ,Kochi, Kerala. The event is an introductory performance to the Birth Centenary celebrations of Late Padmashree Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair Aassan, eminent Kathakali artist.

Two different Kathakali plays are held in the two evenings.

On 24 May 2014, the performance is based on the story Nalacharitham, Randam Divassam, Nalacharitham, the Second Day. The artists and characters involved are Priya Namboothiri as Kaattalan and Haripriya Namboothiri as Damayanthi. The Kathakali song is by Kalamandalam Bhavadasan Namboothiri and Kalamandalam Krishanakumar. The percussions Chenda and Maddalam is handled by Thrippunithura Gopalakrishnan Thamburan and R.L.V Jithin. The costumes and Make-up (Chutti), Greenrooom and the backstage are by Kalamandalam Radhakrishnan and Eroor Surendran & party.

The Second day evening (25 May 2014) will witness the performance on Kalyanisoughandhikam (Story / Katha). The Cast and Crew will be Sadanam Krishnankutty (Bheeman), FACT Bijubhaskar ( Paanjali ), Sadanam Balakrishnan (Hanuman), Sadanam Sivadas and Kalamandalam Rajesh Babu (Song / Paattu), Sadanam Ramakrishnan (Chenda, the percussion), Kalanilayam Prakashan( Maddalam- the percussion), Eroor Manoj(Costumes and Make-up / Chutti) and Eroor Sasi & party (Greenroom and Backstage).

In Memory of a Birth Day

Kalasagar, the organisation founded by Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval, maestro of percussion Chenda at Kavalappara, Palakkad Dt., Kerala and  Palakkad Kathakali Trust is jointly organizing the 90th Birth anniversary celebration of  the maestro on 28 May 2014 . The event named Oru Pirannalinte Ormmakku, In Memory of a Birthday, held at Muncipal Town Hall, Palakkad, Kerala honors artists from different fields of art & culture.

A Melappadam Kacheri, the Orchestra Concert and an over night Kathakali performance  is held on the same day. The Melappadam Kacheri is presented by the disciples of Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval. The over night   Kathakali  performance narrates the three stories - Bheeshma Prathijgna, Dasamugha Ravanan and Baali Vadham. Major artists like Sadanam Krishnankutty, Kottakkal Chandra Sekharan, Kalamandalam Ramachandran Unnithan and Kottakkal Sivadas will play leading roles.

Bharatanatyam Workshop by Rama Vaidyanathan

A workshop on bharathanatyam was held at the Koothambalam of Kerala Kalamandalam, Thrissur Dt., Kerala from 06 to 10 may 2014. The 5-day workshop was conducted by Rama Vaidyanathan, an exponent in the Indian classical dance, Bharatanatyam and was organised by Kalaanidhaa, an intitutuion dedicated to arts.

Thrissur Celebrating the Pooram

Thrissur Pooram, one of the main festivals of Kerala, was celebrated at Thrissur, the cultural capital of state,on 09th of  May this year. The festival, as usual, attracted huge crowd to Thekkinkad Maidanam, the Vadakkumnathan temple ground, where the pooram is conducted every year.The celebrations of pooram began in the city days before. People from all over the world gathered here for witnessing the festival, which is considered as one of the main and biggest temple festivals of Kerala. 

The colourful festival started with the Kodiyettam, the ritualistic hosting of festive flag, on 03 May 2014, seven days before the Thrissur pooram. Ten temples, viz, Thiruvambady, Paramekkavu , Ayyanthole Karthyayini ,Nethilakkavu Bhagavathi , Karamukku ,  Laloor Bhagavathi, Choorakkattukavu Bhagavathi, Chembukkavu Bhagavathi, Panamukkumpally Sastha and Kanimangalam Sastha, participate in this unique festival. These temples form two different groups . Thiruvambadi temple and Parammekkavu temple are the leaders of the two different groups and the key participants of this festival. 

The day before Thrissur pooram, on 08 May 2014, there was exhibitions of the decorations for the elephants participating in pooram, called Aanachamaya Pradarsanam. The exhibitions were conducted by the leaders of the two teams in the festival - the Thiruvambadi and Parammekkavu temples.

The main festival, the Thrissur pooram was celebrated on 09th May 2014 with several rituals including Madathilvaravu, kudamattom and Elanjithara Melam, creating a feast on percussion instruments. The spectacular fireworks begins on 03.00am and continue till early morning. On 10th May, there is Pakal pooram,a brief of the Thrissur Pooram, especially for the localities. The festival ends with the ritual upacharam cholli piriyal, the farewell.

Bharatanatyam Workshop

Kalaanidha, an institution of arts at Panjal, Thrissur is organising a Bharatanatyam
workshop at Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthy, Thrissur, Kerala. The 5 days workshop
is conducted by Rama Vaidyanathan, the well known exponent in Bharatanatyam, the Indian Classical Dance.

For details contact Kalamandalam Rajeesh, Director of Kalaanidhaa.
Mob: 09447599766,09995222718, 08129146131
OR
 www.kalaanidhaa.com