Chief Guests
Sri Kavalam Narayanapanicker, a well-known theatre director, playwright and poet filled Kerala cultural arena from the 1960s onwards. His works mainly involved transforming the Malayalam drama and creating and establishing the "theatre of roots movement". He has written 31 Malayalam plays and presented various Sanskrit plays including Shakunthalam and Urubhangam. He facilitated Sopanasangeetham as the accompanying music in the classical dance form Mohiniyattam.
Renowned Mohiniyattam artist, Smt. Jayaprabha Menon accompanied Sri Kavalam, her mentor and guide on the thalams of Kerala. Her skill, repertoire and improvisation helped the audience to get a deeper understanding of the thalams.
The programmes presented on the Day
- Dances: Classical, folk and contemporary dances presented by Sruthi dancers. o Sree Ganapathiyude – Dance invoking Lord Ganesha. o Aalolam Peelikkavadi: Dance. Presenting Krishna, Radha and Gopikas. o Karukare Karmukil – Dance celebrating the majestic arrival of rain.
- Vadyam Ganam- Raga based Musical programme, taking us through the harmonies, melodies and rhythms of our musical heritage. Sruthi music enthusiasts bring together vocal and instrumental music, exploring a select set of ragas. The ensemble of musicians also honours the songwriter and the thaalam exponent in Kavalam.
- Mukhamukham with the Chief Guests, with live demonstration of thaalams and mudras- with active participation from Smt. Jayaprabha Menon and the audience.
- Theyyatheyyam – Drama. Kavalam’s play, Theyyatheyyam, based on the Theyyam of Malabar tells the story of the human beings who transform into the characters in the play. Theatre enthusiasts, staging this multi-layered play, also attempt to draw some parallels with Scottish/English history.
- Duryodhanavadham – Kathakali performed by Kalachethana Kathakali Company. An opportunity to understand, explore or be enthralled by the defining art form of Kerala and the face of Sruthi. The team of 11 artistes perform three acts of Duryodhanavadham- following the lament and resolve of Panchali, the Kaurava brothers make the traditional entry and the crescendo gathers pace to the thigh slapping rhythm in Krishna’s diplomatic mission, leading to the adrenaline filled defeat of Dussasanan by Raudra Bheeman. The celebrated artists’ consummate skill elevates the rigour of the elements - facial, body, vocal, costume & make up – of acting and percussion to a total theatre experience.
