Jaipur witnesses traditional dance forms of Kerala

The traditional art forms of Kerala, ‘Kalarippayattu’ and Kootiyattam’s offshoot variant, ‘Nangiar Koothu’ were performed at

Jawahar Kala Kendra

’s

Rangayan

auditorium.

The performance began with ‘Kalarippayattu’ an Indian martial arts performance where the artistes brought together acts which included weapons like daggers, swords, shields and wooden sticks.

Based on 4 aspects of body balancing, hidden weapons, other weapons and lastly body as a weapon itself. The act resonated artistically with what the body can do as a weapon and how a weapon is an extended part of the body. The performance was presented by Sajith P, Akshay TS, Akshay Kumar, Hemabharathy Palani and Arathy AR.

Glimpses of the performance The Nangiar Koothu: ‘Kamsavadham’ – The story by dancer Usha Nangiar
This was followed by a performance of ‘The Nangiar Koothu: Kamsavadham – The story’ by dancer, Usha Nangiar. Nangiar Koothu enacts elaborately the stories of Lord Krishna with the help of hand gestures, eye movements and expressions. The dance drama followed the story of ‘Kamsa’, the King of Mathura who comes to know that Krishna the 8th son of Devaki is going to be his killer.

Audience enjoying the performance
She also presented 3 shlokas describing how Krishna generates diverse feelings in courtiers of Kamsa; how Krishna and Balarama kill the fighters Chanura and Mushtika and how Krishna kills Kamsa. Nangiar was accompanied by VKK Hari Haran and Kala Rajeev on Mizhavu and Kala Unnikrishnan and Thalam Athira on Edakka.