Koodiyattam casts a spell

Koodiyattam casts a spell
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Highlights

Guru Margi Madhu mesmerised with his Koodiyattam performance at the University of Hyderabad (UoH). Koodiyattam, also transliterated as Kutiyattam, is a form of Sanskrit theatre traditionally practiced in Kerala. Performed in the Sanskrit language in Hindu temples, it is believed to be 2,000 years old.

Guru Margi Madhu mesmerised with his Koodiyattam performance at the University of Hyderabad (UoH). Koodiyattam, also transliterated as Kutiyattam, is a form of Sanskrit theatre traditionally practiced in Kerala. Performed in the Sanskrit language in Hindu temples, it is believed to be 2,000 years old.


It is officially recognised by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The act was presented by Nepathya (Center for Excellence in Kutiyattam) at UoH in association with SPIC MACAY. For a frail and simple human being, Margi Madhu adds a good punch on stage.

He is magical and Madhu’s portrayal of characters on the stage of venerated Kudiyattam is beyond belief. The act named Agnipravesankam, is the seventh act of Ascharayachudamani of Saktibhadran. It basically presents Lakshmana's first person description of Sita's ordeal by the fire, after the fall of Lanka and the death of Ravana, to an attentive and equally amazed Rama.

An excited and ebullient exchange of words that occur between the brothers describes the events occurring at the time of Sita's ordeal by fire. Seeing a joyful and overexcited Lakshmana, Rama asks him about the cause of this great happiness. Lakshmana then pictorially describes Rama and how devotionally Sita accepted the ordeal and willfully entered the pyre, showing no sadness, but only faith and purity.

Sita goes around the pyre thrice and comes back unhurt, pure and faultless. This pleases Rama and he happily sets out to see Sita, which commemorates the end of the performance that continued for about 90 minutes.Ascharya Lakshmana's role was essayed by Guru Margi Madhu Chakyar while Nepathya Yadukrishnan potrayed Lord Rama.

Mizhavu was played by Kalamandalam Manikandan and Nepathya Jinesh. Kalanilayam Rajan played the Edakka. Thalam was by Dr Indu G. The five-hour make-up was carried out by Kalamandalam Ravikumar with assistance from Nepathya Sreehari Chakyar.

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