Temples have been the patrons of arts in Kerala since centuries. Among them the role played by Sree Koodalmanikyam temple, Irinjalakuda has been exemplary. Manikyasree Puraskaram awarded to maestros of different art forms at the national level since 2022 is perhaps the most prestigious one. What makes the award more unique is that it is given to the artiste during the annual 10-day festival – April 28 to May 8 this year- which is also a festival of arts.
Interestingly, this year’s Puraskaram was for Koodiyattam, the age-old Sanskrit theatre of Kerala, for the revival and promotion of which the temple had contributed immensely. The presence of the Ammannur Chakyar family and the Koothambalam that is the most perfect among all such playhouses attached to temples in Kerala have been instrumental for this.
What made it more spectacular was that this year G Venu, the first non-Chakyar to learn the art form for the Puraskaram. Commented Venu after receiving the Puraskaram, “This is the most esteemed accolade I have ever received in my life”.
And he has every reason to feel elated since he had opted for Koodiyattam on his own unlike his fellow artistes who were forced to learn it out of many inevitable reasons. In this respect even his mentor Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar was no exception.
A life dedicated to theatre
A consummate Kathakali artiste, Venu was trained by doyens like Chengannur Raman Pillai and Guru Gopinath. Soon he was fascinated by the gestural language of the art form that was unique in all respects.
Basically a theatre enthusiast, Venu was invited by G Sankara Pillai to join the School of Drama under Calicut University. It was during his stint as a teacher at the School of Drama that Venu chanced to see a performance by Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar at the Koothampalam of Sree Vadakkunnathan temple, Thrissur. The theatrical potentialities of the centuries old Sanskrit drama and the scope of abhinaya it embraced left a profound influence on him. So much so, he resigned his job and shifted his residence to Irinjalakuda.
At the age of 37 Venu joined the Ammannur Kalari. Ever since his initiation, he has been following Ammannur Madhava Chakyar like his shadow, taking care of his needs in the capacity of both a disciple and impresario. In turn, Madhava Chakyar groomed him as his protégé. The credit for reviving the extinct Ammannur Chachu Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam in 1982 goes to Venu himself. It may be a surprise to learn that the Gurukulam was inaugurated in his rented home ’Vadakkepattom’, opposite to the Ammannur Madhom.
But during the heydays of the Gurukulam in the past, the institution was instrumental in creating maestros like Ammannur Madhava Chakyar, Painkulam Rama Chakyar and Ammannur Parameswara Chakyar – all trained by the supremo of Koodiyattam in the 20th century, Ammannur Chachu Chakyar. No wonder, Koodiyattam in Kalamandalam and Margi owe their allegiance to Ammannur Chakyars.
Apart from all the gestures of the temple for promoting Koodiyattam, perhaps the most historical one was the staging of Asokavanikamkam, the fifth Act of Shakthibadra’s Ascharyachoodamani. This was almost extinct as the play was not staged for a long time.
Venu, who had travelled widely across the country and worked in some famous cultural institutions in the north was in close contact with the cultural celebrities in Delhi like Kamaladevi Chadopadyaya, the chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi.
With her support the play in full was staged in the Koothambalam from December 9 to 26 in 1982, the first Koodiyattam festival of the Gurukulam. The temple authorities provided all facilities.
Enthusiasts from all over the country turned up to watch this epochal event. Moreover, the play was staged by all the maestros of Ammannur family. Akademi’s team of experts arrived and the whole play was video documented. The video running to several hours kept in the Akademi’s archives is one of the rarest and valuable collections.
Perhaps the magnum opus of Venu’s innumerable works is the production of Kalidasa’s Sakuntalam which was anathema to the Chakyar community. That the play was staged at three international festivals abroad is an unbeaten record in the history of Indian theatre. Further it brought laurels to him and the theatre form. The last among his choreographies Mricchakatika of Sudraka is being staged in all the cities in the country.
Venu’s efforts to revive Nangiarkooth with the guidance of Ammannur Madhava Chakyar produced many renowned artistes, the first being Usha Nangiar who had turned the very synonym of the art form.
Judging from his immortal contributions, one can say that he is a Manikyam in the field of Koodiyattam.
1 Comment
Richly deserved