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Kerala
`Sakuntalam' in Koodiyattom style begins
By Our Staff Reporter
IRINJALAKKUDA, JAN. 5. The much-awaited staging of the Sanskrit masterpiece `Abhijnana Sakuntalam' in Koodiyattom style for the first time began at the auditorium of the `Natana Kairali' Research and Performing Centre for Traditional Arts here this evening.
The 12-hour play will be presented in four parts on four consecutive days from today. The prologue and the first act will be performed today, while the second and third acts will be performed tomorrow, fourth and fifth acts on the third day and the remaining sixth and seventh acts on the concluding day. The performance on each day will be around three hours.
`Abhijnana Sakuntalam' (Sakuntala and the Ring of Recollection), authored by the master-poet, Kalidasa, in 2nd Century AD is considered to be one of the masterpieces in world literature.
Even though `Sakuntalam' has been performed in various styles across the world, it is for the first time that this ancient play was being staged in Koodiyattom style, which was the oldest surviving Sanskrit Theatre tradition in India.
Koodiyattom has a unique representation of Sanskrit plays and a highly-stylised and complex theatre language replete with traditional hand gestures and facial expressions.
The uniqueness of this Indian theatre tradition was upheld even by the global cultural bodies like the Unesco, which recently declared `Koodiyattom' as a `masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity'.
The Sakuntalam in Koodiyattom style is being presented by the troupe of Natana Kairali which has been undertaking many artistic activities both in the traditional and contemporary spheres.
The Koodiyattom troupe of Natana Kairali consists of the artistes trained at the Ammanur Chachu Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam under the guidance of Guru Ammanur Madhava Chakyar, the foremost exponent and living legend of Koodiyattom.
The training programme was financially supported by Kendra Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. The performers also got the opportunity for a special training in `Nethrabhinaya' (eye-expressions) at the acting workshop set up at the Natana Kairali with the support from Japan Foundation Asia Centre and the Sanskriti Pravah.
The play has been directed by Gopal Venu who was responsible for the formation of Natana Kairali and the Chachu Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam.
The maiden show of the play was preceded by a brief inaugural session. The renowned Sankrit scholar, K. P. Nayarayana Pisharody, lighted a traditional lamp to mark the inauguration.
Ammanur Madhava Chakyar, Ammanur Parameswara Chakyar and the noted Greek Theatre historian, Inger Zielfelt, also lighted the lamp to partake in the inaugural session.
Prof. Pisharody then recited the benedictory sloka of `Sakuntalam' and wished all success and numerous stages for the play across the world.
A three-day international seminar on `Sankuntalam' has also been arranged as part of the staging of the play from Sunday.
The director of the Japan Foundation, New Delhi, Yoo Fukazava, will inaugurate the seminar in which Paula Brandt (Sweden), Anna-Lise Gabold (Denmark) and the Japanese danseuse, Yoshimura Keiin, will be participating in the seminar.
The former director general of the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Premalatha Puri, will inaugurate the session on `Sakuntala and Indian Theatre' to be held on the third day.
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