: The ongoing Kochi-Muziris Biennale provided the first-ever platform for two pre-classical Indian arts to interact, as practitioners of Karnataka's Yakshagana and Kerala's Chavittu Natakam came face-to-face to demonstrate their techniques and aesthetics on the sidelines of a momentous show.
Sixteen members of Udupi-based Yakshagana Kendra presented the nuances of their theatre at the Yuva Kerala Chavittu Nataka Samithi, whose artistes showed in return how the Christian stomp drama has evolved over the past five centuries to include non-Biblical themes as well of late.
Ahead of their Feb 1 performance in the Chavittu Natakam heartland of Gothuruthu near North Paravur, the Yakshagana artistes visited nearby Kurumbathuruth village where Roy Georgekutty trains his troupe in the highly colourful Latin Catholic dance-drama.
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"Such meetings are essential in today's age of increasing cross-cultural contacts," said Biennale Director of Programmes Riyas Komu.
Roy, who is the son of legendary Chavittu Natakam master Georgekutty Ashan, initiated the interaction through a lecture-demonstration of the basic steps of his art form. To this, the young Yakshagana exponents presented passages from their basic lessons.
Subsequently, the two teams did a compare-and-contrast of the body language employed in dancing to the same rhythms.
Babita Madhvaraj, coordinator of the 1971-founded Yakshagana Kendra, noted that both the art forms had their set of differences in approach even as Yakshagana and Chavittu Natakam have coastal origins in southwest India.
"We stick to classical traditions, while Chavittu Natakam has its base on local folk ethos," she said, adding that the music employed in Yakshagana has been on the lines of the Carnatic stream.
Babita then sang Yakshagana music with a pronounced south Indian classical touch, to which Roy replied in agreement-and rendered Chavittu Natakam music with the lilt of Kerala backwaters.
Roy and team presented the princess' scene from St Sebastian, while Jyotish Krishna demonstrated the Balakreeda from the Bhagawata epic.
After that, Chavittu Natakam artistes in full costumes staged the 'Raja Sadas' scene in his art, focusing on the strength and vibrancy of the footwork. Babita concurred, noting that even the battle scenes in Yakshagana "are not this forceful".
The Yakshagana Kendra invited Roy and his troupe for a Chavittu Natakam workshop at Udupi. Accepting it, the Chavittu Natakam actors requested the Yakshagana artistes to take part in the Chuvati festival next year.
