Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair was the mohini of Kathakali. This was a role he played for over fifty years. He was born near the Kudamaloor Vasudevapuram temple in Kottayam district in 1916. He was trained under eminent gurus like Kurichi Rama Panicker and Kurichi Kochappi Panicker known as the 'Kochappi-Ramas' and their nephew Kurichi Kunjan Panicker. He specialized in female impersonation and, at an early age, accompanied Thottam Sankaran Namboodiri during 1881-1943 on his foreign tour. Later he became a disciple of Kavalappara Narayanan Nair and graduated in the northern Kathakali style, joining the main troupe of the Travancore palace in 1939. He cultivated a bewitching smile and feminine expressions as the secrets of his success. Kudamaloor excelled as the aristocratic Damayanti, Rukmini, Draupadi, and Devayani, enchantresses like Mohini and Lalita, caste types like Kattalatti or forest-dweller's wife, Vannatti or washerwoman, and Malayatti or hill woman, and in the sringara or erotic and karuna or sad aspects of women. He set up a Kathakali school adjacent to his home. In 1968 he became the main instructor at the famous Kathakali Vidyalayam of Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore in Aluva, near Kochi, Ernakulam district. Presently, he is chief teacher of Kudamaloor Kala Kendram, established in his honour in 1978. As a person, he is known for his sense of humour and simplicity.
This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recently Updated Articles in Indian Dances
|
|
|
• | Karyala Karyala is a popular folk dance of Himachal Pradesh that is performed during the Dussehra festival and in other ceremonies.
| | • | Arpita Roy An accomplished Kathak dancer, Arpita Roy has carved a niche for her in the arena of Classical dance.
| | • | Arpita Roy Arpita Roy has shown her brilliance in the field of Odissi dance as well as academics.
| | • | Ankiya Nat Ankiya Nat is the single act drama, which has spread its roots and twigs across the cultural soil of Assam.
| | • | Kagyed Dance Kagyed Dance is performed at Tsuk-La-Khang Palace, two days before Losoong Festival in Sikkim. It symbolises exorcism of evil and ushering in of peace and prosperity.
| | |
|
|
|
|