Thrissur, August 5, 2013: Artist Namboodiri, film director Shaji N. Karun and Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Gopi at a function organised by Vedika in Thrissur on Sunday in remembrance of Kathakali veteran Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair.— Photo: K. K. Najeeb

Various programmes were held here by Vedika on Sunday in remembrance of Kathakali veteran Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair.

Maestro Kalamandalam Gopi recalled Ramankutty Nair’s contribution to Kathakali.

Delivering a remembrance speech, writer K. C. Narayanan said the majestic charm of Ramankutty Nair playing Ravana in ‘Ravanotbhavam’ marked a personal triumph.

‘Silenced critics’

“In mythology and art, there are two kinds of characters. One, the personification of the divine. This character is magically bestowed with supreme powers and skills. The other character, much human, toils to achieve the supreme. Ravana was one such. ‘Utbhavam’ shows him looking back at his childhood agonies and his struggle to emerge as a warrior. It is a story of the emergence of an individual. Ramankutty Nair could identify himself with Ravana. He was short and had small eyes, a drawback for Kathakali actors, and was taunted for not being supremely skilled in conveying the emotions of characters. With unending life-long sadhana, he silenced his critics and emerged as a maestro,” he said.

Film director Shaji N. Karun released a DVD of Ramankutty Nair’s performance in the play, ‘Balivijayam’.

Artist Namboodiri drew a painting of Ramankutty Nair in action.

A documentary on Ramankutty Nair, directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan, was screened.

The staging of Kathakali play, ‘Ravanotbhavam’, followed the meeting. Ramankutty Nair excelled in ‘chitta pradhanam’ plays, those rooted in convention. He easily slipped into Kathi characters, those with Rajo Guna (having traits of intense passion, restlessness, aggression). As Ravana, Duryodhana, Keechaka, Narakasura and Sisupala, the actor gave his peers a run for their money.

In contrast to these villainous characters, he also played to perfection the honest and chivalrous Dharmaputra in Kottayathu Thampuran's play, ‘Kirmeeravadham’. Kottayam plays demand from the actor mastery over all aspects of the dance-drama. In them, the actor can improvise only within the strictures of chitta or convention. He also set new standards for portrayals of Hanuman (Kalyanasoughandhikam, Thoranayudham, and Lavanasuravadham).

Source: The Hindu, DT. August 5, 2013.