Webinar 2020

Attended a webinar organised by peet memmorial training college. It was a 2 day online workshop on performing arts based on Edu 301.3 : Art and Aesthetics Education. 

                 Aesthetic Education is a way of regaining touch with the process of learning something new, of being introduced to a medium never known in a particular way before. Since aesthetic purposes quality is an aspect of all activity, perception and intelligent thought, aesthetic education helps students to discover new ways of looking at their everyday experiences and hence it's significance in the B.Ed programme.

                  

The art form- Kathakali was the topic of the class. The webinar discussed all detailed information about the art form - Kathakali based on its history and evolution, repertoire, costumes, instruments and music, famous exponents etc.

          Resource person : Renowned Kathakali artist - Sri Madhu Varanasi

Madhu Varanasi aka Madhavan Nampoothiri was born with an artistic legacy. His grandfather, his brother and father are known Kathakali percussion artists. His passion for being a Kathakali actor was kindled by his ancestors And he was trained under  Sri. Kalamandalam Krishna Prasad. During his primary school days, he had his arangettam aka the first performance. After some years training and stage experience he had become a professional Kathakali performer. He is post graduated in English and is currently working as a high school teacher in Nair samajam HSS for boys, Mannar. Through his exemplary performances, he has bagged the appreciation of Kathakali connoisseurs and has garnered awards and honours from various Kathakali clubs and organisations. He has visited many places within the country and abroad for performances.

       The programme:-

Day 1: August 13 ,2020

             Visual arts in kerala- classical arts- peculiarities- Kathakali- origin and development- art in recent days- Popular artists.

Day 2: August 14, 2020

             Different types of abhinaya- mudras- basics- presentation of ideas through mudras.

Time: 10am to 12 pm

Platform: Google meet

Content :-

          The Indian State Kerala is well known for its diverse forms of performing arts. The various communities in Kerala contribute to its rich and colorful culture.

• Ayyappan Vilakku,
• Shastham paatu
• Kathakali
• Chakyar Koothu
• Nangiar Koothu
• Mohiniyattam
• Thirayattam
• Padayani
• Thiyyattu
• Koodiyattam
• Kerala Natanam
• Panchavadyam
• Thullal
• Tholpavakoothu
• Ottamthullal
• Garudan Thookkam
• Kolam Thullal
• Kakkarissi Nadakam
• Poorakkali
• Mudiyett
• Kummattikali
• Kuthiyottam
• Thiriyuzhichil
• Kalaripayattu
• Mangalamkali
• Marathukali
• Malayikuthu
• Mukkanchathan
• Charadupinnikkali
• Kothammuriyattam
• Sopanam
• Thacholikali
• Sarpam Thullal

• PulluvanPaattu
• Poothan and Thira
• Yakshagana in Kasaragod
• Kanyar kali in northern Palakkad district
• Purattu Nadakam in Palakkad district
• Pavakoothu
• Kaalakali
• Thiruvathira
• Krishnanattam
• Koodiyattam
• Vadyakala
• Theyyam
• Onapottan
• Pettathullal

 Kathakali , a genre in the Indian classical dance form, is associated with storytelling form of this art. It is the dance drama from the south Indian state of Kerala. Similar to other Indian classical dance arts, the story in ‘Kathakali’ is also communicated to audience through excellent footwork and impressive gestures of face and hands complimented with music and vocal performance. However it can be distinguished from the others through the intricate and vivid make-up, unique face masks and costumes worn by dancers as also from their style and movements that reflect the age-old martial arts and athletic conventions prevalent in Kerala and surrounding regions. Traditionally performed by male dancers, it developed in courts and theatres of Hindu regions contrary to other Indian classical dances which predominantly developed in Hindu temples and monastic schools. Although not clearly traceable, this classical dance form is considered to have originated from temple and folk arts that trace back to 1st millennium CE or before.

               

Kathakali is typically structured around ‘Attakatha’ meaning the story of attam or dance. ‘Attakatha’ are plays that were historically derived from Hindu epics like ‘Bhagavata Purans’, ‘Mahabharata’ and ‘Ramayana’ which were written in certain format that allows one to determine the dialogue portions that is the Pada part and the action portions that is the Shloka part of the performance. The latter is the poetic metre written in third person elucidating the action portions through choreography. A dramatic representation of an ancient play is presented in a Kathakali performance which includes actor-dancers, vocalists and musicians. This age-old performance art traditionally starts at dusk and performed through dawn with breaks and interludes and sometimes for several nights starting at dusk.

             Kavungal Chathunni Panicker, a celebrated and veteran performer of this field, is a scion of the famous Kavungal family associated with ‘Kathakali’ for six generations. Kalamandalam Gopi, a renowned name in ‘Kathakali’ with a career of over 30 years, is one of the most eminent representatives of the Kalluvazhi School of Kerala. Another famed ‘Kathakali’ actor Kottakkal Sivaraman, who portrays feminine characters emotes different nayika bhavas such as lasya nayika and vasakasajjika with great élan.Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair is a seasoned ‘Kathakali’ performer who not only earned fame for portraying negative characters like Ravana and Duryodhana but also proved his mettle in characterising Lord Hanuman. Other imminent ‘Kathakali’ performers includeKalamandalam Krishna Prasad, Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody, Kalamandalam Kesavan Namboodiri and Kalanilayam Balakrishnan to name a few.

           

That was a fabulous webinar.