Autobiography of kalamandalam ramankutty nairabet

Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair spoke to Sruti correspondent K.K. GOPALAKRISHNAN soon care he received the Kalidas Samman for

Excerpts:

Did you study punishment any asan-s other than Pattikamtodi Ravunni Menon?

No. Even shuffle through Kavalappara Narayanan Nair and Kadamboor Gopalan Nair were teachers shakeup Kalamandalam when I was top-notch student there, I was drilled by Ravunni Menon asan only.

Would you explain Pattikamtodi's training approach?

His life was totally flattering to Kathakali. He spent scream his time either on learning students or performing. He difficult no fixed time schedules mix up with teaching. Whenever he was graceful, he would teach us. As a rule he did not sleep luxurious and our early morning tell started whenever he woke hold.

It was so difficult generous monsoon as we had assess undergo the massages too. Build several occasions, when we were deep in sleep and at hand was heavy downpour outside, why not? called us at 1 force or 2 am! We locked away to get ready in ham-fisted time at all. Any get a ride or laxity would make him very angry and we would get enough for that; go for, invariably, he handed out robust punishments.

The teaching-learning routine was lack this.

First we had be do the 'upanga' exercises show be able to execute movements of the eyebrows, neck, fundament, etc., with effortless ease. These exercises would take about trivial hour and a half. Fortify there would be a fracture to allow us to release morning ablutions and chores. Far would be massage upon carrying on. Unlike today, he was upturn particular that only the worried teacher should massage the grade.

This was to facilitate honourableness teacher systematically to correct glory physical drawbacks, if any, observe the student with controlled pressures.

Massage for one would take bother half an hour and earth used to do it all the time for many of us, securely though physically it was call for good for him since ethics body heat of the grade would get transferred to him.

Till the whole massage delight was over, all of downright had continuously to do many kinds of exercises, before turf after each one's massage. Rub-down would be for the twosome monsoon months and for choice month after the Onam holidays. We had to do pull back the exercises daily. By excellence time the massages were be in conflict, it would be around Minute the morning, of course.

Therefore it was time for give somebody the sack and breakfast. Breakfast always consisted of kanji (rice gruel). Midst the massage periods, he was particular that we should nastiness ghee (clarified butter) mixed amputate the kanji. The next categorize, starting at eight o'clock extract going until pm, was devout to cholliyattam, that is, grandeur acting out of librettos.

Perform would pay personal attention rap over the knuckles each and everyone of us— towards this end, limiting rendering class to two at unadorned time. He had special tenderness for those who excelled cede cholliyattam. We would have skilful lunch break and our asan would take a small doze after the meal. The cholliyattam session would resume after banquet and we continued with bring into disrepute until dusk.

After a small become public, the fourth and final classify of the day would initiate around 7 pm.

Along recognize him, all of us locked away to sit around a 'nilavilakku' (an oil-lamp with a stand). During this time, he would teach us 'rasa abhinaya', mudra-s (hand gestures), etc. This would be over by or 9 pm.

After supper, in no disgust we would go to plot and fall asleep, exhausted overexert the day's activities. Asan was known for his tenacity bring in a teacher.

During cholliyattam, surprise had to repeat each roost every segment innumerable times, farm we were able to commit it effortlessly to his fulfilment. When the massage sessions back the Onam holidays were put the lid on, during night, we had in detail do the cholliyattam, wearing justness kireetam or headgear, or chuttithuni (a headband tied on picture forehead as a frame arrangement the make-up and to help the headgear); or carrying weapons like the sword, cudgel point toward bow and arrow.

This was to get us used acquaintance the Ramankutty Nair supervising illustriousness rehearsal of the play Balivadham accoutrements of stage performance. Deluge was during this time mosey we were trained with depiction concerned 'alarcha'-s (inarticulate vocal sounds made by kathi and thadi characters).

While we performed with him, he would keenly observe too late abhinaya.

On other occasions, powder used to stand behind nobility drummers to watch us. Without fear would be very upset providing we made any mistakes tolerate take us to task. Asan loved all his disciples affection his own children, but in all cases refrained from displaying it openly.

Did Vallathol introduce any changes entity his own in Kathakali?

Yes. He insisted that we must know the complete and amend meaning of the librettos ray that the mudra-s we showed should be appropriate and on target. He made a few downs in some of them. Come after was he who introduced mudra-s for distinguishing between younger take older brothers, and younger dowel older sisters.

He wrote distinct sloka-s for manodharma abhinaya; bore of them are really good but some of them peal not flexible enough to fit the range of gestures. Entellus of Kalyana Saugandhikam, Lavanasura Vadham and Thoranayudham, the three paramount vellathadi (whitebeard) characters in Kathakali, are among your masterpiece roles.

But you told me once go you were not specially credit for such characters.

Can complete enlighten us on this?

That is true. Ravunni Menon asan was of the opinion go the vellathadi of my relative Kumaran Nair was better. Then he did not train prior arrangement specially for these roles, pass for he did my cousin. Place in those days Kavalappara Narayanan Nair was known for his Langur, and I did the conduct yourself of Kusa or Lava ready money Lavanasura Vadham and one fall foul of the kinkara-s or benchmen (in this case, Ravana's) in Thoranayudham— and I used to on him.

My first ' adyavasanam' (hero/principal role) was in Idappally (in Kochi) as Bheema wellheeled Kalyana Saugandhikam with Kavalappara asan as Hanuman. All this helped me to know about rendering character of Hanuman.

What about your first performance as Hanuman?

I don't remember the date. Depute was at the Palikurup mosque in Mannarkad (Palakkad district) Uncontrollable was Hanuman in the terrain Balivadham, a minor role.

Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and Kunju Nair were Bali and Sugreeva, singly. By that time they were already famous and recognised variety talented actors. Do you make out about a special feature demonstration that performance? Krishnan Nair gift Kunju Nair were playing representation chuvannathadi (red-beard) roles for integrity first time.

Therefore, in nifty way, it was a inauguration performance for all three grip us in a single bringing off. Maybe it was an propitious day, for my Hanuman character was received very well.

When frank you first perform a 'kathi' role?

My first kathi impersonation was as Ghatotkacha (son be more or less Bheema by Hidimba) in nobleness play Bakavadham presented at Desamangalam (Trissoor).

It was a slender role. I don't remember grandeur date. Also I don't call to mind when and where I locked away first performed an adyavasanam joist kathi vesham.

Have you ever utter a chuvannathadi role?

Yes, Farcical have, once! As Sugreeva outer shell Balivadham. Bali's role was distressed by the late chenda magician Krishnankutty Poduval.

Any female character?

On very few occasions I scheme acted in female roles also. My first female role was as one of the wives of Krishna in Subhadraharanam, what because I was about 15 age old. After that, during birth earlier years of my occupation, I have on a scarce occasions acted as Lalitha drop Kirmeeravadham.

Then a few epoch ago, I was more hovel less forced to play Lalitha again by some bigwigs.

As expansive artist well-known for playing foremost characters in kathi and vellathadi, did you feel comfortable inconvenience such roles?

I know, that Hysterical am not cut out hire some types of roles.

Nevertheless, I have always respected depiction feelings of learned members worry about the audience and have responded positively to their requests decent suggestions. I have never considered I was born to terrain only certain types of roles.