Arangetram
In my previous
visit to Kottakal, a town of Katahakali ( though it was in March, 2003) I was so
fascinated with Kathakali,
after a few months I returned back to Kottakal again.
In this visit, Ah! I was so recklessly, I got into a difficulty to have an Arangetram of
Kathakali Dance!!
At first, I simply started to learn Kathakali with an aim for the better understanding on
Kathakali.
After some times when I was learning Kathakali, I was cajoled into doing with the flattery
of the Kathakali boys,
saying that "Since you have learnt Kathakali, you should dance on a stage"
"We are very eager to see your Kathakali dance on a stage." With those words of
flattery, I decided such important thing without thinking deeply.
When the rehearsal was started, I realized its difficulty and my impudent decision.
A scene of rehearsal
Untill
then I was learning abhinayas ( for acting the meaning of the song of the dance, gestures
are used with the help of hands or face )
with using mudras of Kathakali sitting on the floor at the Asham's ( Guru) house,
I was thinking so easily it, since I had rich experience of Bharatanatyam, its experience
might be helped me.
However, when we started the rehearsal, joining with vocalists, music instruments and a
partner-dancer acting in a style of dance drama,
I found out many different points between Bharatanatyam and Kathakali,
such as waiting time during a partner dancer is acting, counting of tala when I dance
abstract dance called as Kalashan between two abhinayas.
Those are the basic difference between Bharatanatyam and Kathakali.
As concerns the Bharatanatyam, song and mudra are always synchronized,
so on listening the song a dancer is dancing with using mudra in fitting with the meaning
of the song.
But the system of Kathakali is concerned, dance and mudra are so slow tempo,
when the vocalist sing same line of song repeatedly, the dancer dances one line of the
song in his own pace,
then to adjust the ending part of the song with the mudra.
Therefore if I pay too much attention to the song, I suddenly miss the place of the
progress for the mudra which I am dancing.
It may be the reason why my tactless character. Anyway, it is the most difficult point to
me for which how to overcome its difficulty .
A rest time at the canteen with Kathakali boys
During the last two
weeks for the Arangetram, I was in a state of mind to escape from that situation, because
I could not dance properly.
Owing to the very kind Ashan who taught me thoroughly with kindness, for my many
questions,
the staffs and the Kathakali boys taught me hand in hand, all the staffs of Natya Sangam
helped me a lot in one united body,
I could have the auspicious day of Arangetram.
Even though at the last rehearsal, I was in a position to have not grasp the tala of
kalashan properly.
A scene of Vishvambala temple where I danced Arangetram.
The subject of my
dace was called as" Rambha Pravesham "which was considered as a pre-story of
Ramayana.
It is the story of the previous night of the war between the king of Lanka, Ravana and his
half brother.
When Ravana came to see beautiful stars at the site where would become a battle field in
the next day,
a beautiful apsaras was crossing the place.
As a matter of fact, she was a courtesan of heaven, namely Ramba
who was on the way to a house of a son whose father was the enemy king Vaishrabana
Hiding herself in the dark night and covering her body with beautiful blue veil, she was
in a hurry to her lover secretly.
However, unfortunately she was found by Ravana.
Since Ravana was fascinated by her beauty, he tried to tempt her with honeyed words,
however, she once decided the secret promise with her lover, she never changed her mind.
Finally Ravana got angry and he raped her with violence.
After that she shuddered with anger and vexation, then she gave a curse to Ravana,
saying that hereafter he should not be able to touch any girls except his own wife.
Therefore Ravana had captured Seeta, a wife of Rama, it was said that Ravana could not
rape Seeta.
It is a very interesting story to make coherence as Indian way.
But the story of my dance was up to the Ramba was raped by Ravana and she gave a curse to
him,
and my role was that beautiful apsaras, Ramba.
A beginning of my makeup. After praying the God, Ashan put me on my face the first foundation
Unnikrishna helped my makeup
Rajumohan gave finishing touches for my makeup
Taking a souvenir photo with Ashan
I wore many petticoats and
double saries……I became a obesity look.
I worried about to be able to dance with this costume, though it was not so much heavy
weight
I would like to say thanking to my partner dancer, Haridas. Since he was a veteran dancer who supported me nicely, I could dance easily.
Anyway, though I was in a cold sweat, while I was doing makeup and wearing costume,
gradually I became myself as a role of the Ramba, I danced calmly at the Arangetram on the
stage.
Even though till the previous day, I could not synchronized with kalashan,
owing to the help of the adjustment of the musicians, I could dance without much mistakes.
It was an Arangetram, the duration of the total practice was a little more than a month
time,
I was so fascinated with Kathakali which was a different type of interesting from
Bharatanatyam.
After finished the Arangetram, I am thinking seriously to learn another item of Kathakali
to spend more time, forgetting all the difficulties
Souvenir photos with Kathakali boys (left, Manosh and right, Unnikrishna)
