Abhinavam is an institution conducting Kathakali training and appreciation courses for the general public with the aim to strengthen the number of Kathakali lovers in and around Thiruvananthapuram.
Kathakali is a classical theatre form, which has a history of more than 350 years. It is usually performed in temples during the festival seasons. In olden times, it was not unusual to have Kathakali performance in the yard of a wealthy family or in a rice field after the cultivation. The duration of a traditional Kathakali performance is eight to ten hours, throughout the night. Nowadays most performances consist of condensed episodes of two to four hours. Though Kathakali literally means 'enactment of a story', the story has only a minimal importance in the actual performance. Two singers sing the text and the actors use a hand gestures (mudra bhasha), facial expressions (abhinaya) and dance for interpreting the meaning of the text. The art of Kathakali lies more in evoking emotional response in the audience than in telling them a story. In a sense the stories, with their well-known and well-loved characters, are but the setting for the depiction of character, action and scenery by the actors.
Keechakavadham (The Slaying of Keechaka), an episode from the Mahabharata, is written by Irayimman Thampi in the late 18th century. Its choreography, too, dates back to the end of 18th century or the beginning of 19th century.
The Pandavas and Draupadi are exiled after having lost in the fateful game of dice with Sakuni and Duryodhana. Having completed twelve years of banishment in the forest, they have come to the kingdom of Virata where they live incognito. Draupadi is disguised as a beautician with the name Malini and serves Queen Sudeshna. Bhima works as the cook Valala. Malini's beauty attracts the attention of Keechaka, the commander-in-chief of Virata and the brother of Queen Sudeshna. Keechaka develops an uncontrollable passion for Malini and makes life at the court unbearable for her. In the belief that he will meet Malini, Keechaka comes to a secret meeting place where he expresses his passion for her. However, he is met by Bhima disguised as Malini. The meeting of the 'lovers' ends in a fight in which Bhima crushes Keechaka to death.
Artists Keechaka (Kathi type costume) - Ettumanoor P. Kannan Singers Kalanilayam Rajeevan Make-up and costumes
Neelamperoor Jayan
Abhinavam School of Theatre Expressions &
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