India's only maritime theatre art 'Chavittunatakam', which traditionally uses Biblical themes, staged 'Sabarimala Sree Dharma Shastavu', based on Hindu mythology at the ongoing Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) here.
As many as 40 artistes of Kerala Chavittunataka Academy in Gothuruthu of Ernakulam district danced with vigour while portraying plots around the life of Lord Ayyappa as the child of Shiva and Vishnu yesterday.
Directed by Joseph Salim, the three-hour dance-drama show with energetic movements had the lyrics in Malayalam instead of the customary Tamil mixed with the state's language.
Earlier in the evening, 'Chuvati 2014' that lines up five Chavittunatakam plays in Gothuruthu near North Paravur till the end of the festival on December 30 was inaugurated by veteran Mohiniyattam danseuse Kalamandalam Sathyabhama and Chhau dance exponent Gopal Prasad Dubey.
Chuvati 2014, curated by Mumbai-based Malayali 'Keli' K Ramachandran, is being organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation in association with Sports and Arts Club in Gothuruthu - a coastal village synonymous with Chavittunatakam, believed to have originated in the 16th century after the arrival of Portuguese on the Malabar Coast.
Chavittunatakam, which traces its pioneer to missionary Chinnathambi Annavi, has its aesthetics and costumes borrowed from European ballet.
