A guide on an ancient art form

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Film director Adoor Gopalakrishnan released the book ‘Kutiyattam - the heritage theatre of India’ authored by accomplished artiste and researcher Sudha Gopalakrishnan at the Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan on September 5. He said that the book will serve as a guide to common people in understanding and appreciating the stylised art form of Kutiyattam.  The veteran filmmaker, known for his experimental movies in Malayalam, said that timely improvisations in accordance to changing scenarios alone will ensure the sustenance of traditional art forms. Art forms like Kutiyattam, which are part of our culture, ought to be passed down to generations, he added.  Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi Chairperson and dancer and choreographer Leela Samson received the first copy of the book. She pointed out that the younger generation seldom gets the opportunity to get accustomed to traditional arts.   Introducing the book to the audience, author Sudha Gopalakrishnan said that the book chronicles the evolution and history of Kutiyattam. A scholar on India’s traditional arts and the performing arts of Kerala, Sudha Gopalakrishnan has authored books such as ‘Comic to the Comedic’ (a comparative analysis of the comic mode in the plays of Bhasa and Shakespeare), ‘Krishnagiti’ (translation of the source text of Krishnanattam with C R Swaminathan), ‘Nalacharitam’ (translation of the Kathakali text and performance manual) and ‘Kaikottikkalippattukal’ (compilation of the oral tradition of songs of the art of Kaikottikkali, in collaboration with Radha Madhavan).  She is also a trained dancer of Kathakali and was vice-president of Margi, a prominent cultural association and training centre of traditional arts in Thiruvananthapuram. ‘Kutiyattam - the heritage theatre of India’, published by Niyogi Books, Delhi, is the first major book on this theatre tradition that existed in India from the times of the ‘Natya Sastra’. The book release was followed by a performance of ‘Jatayuvadham Kutiyattam’ by artistes of Margi. The event was hosted by the Kutiyattam Kendra, Thiruvananthauram, which functions under the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi.