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'Vellinezhi' Kathakali Village
- Vivid document
Known as the cradle of Kathakali, Vellinezhi is a serene village by a legendary river, Kunthlppuzha. Though languishing now, it was once reasonant with the beats, cymbals and songs of Kathakali long before the founding of Kerala Kalamandalam.
Revered as a pioneer par excellence, Pattikkamthodi Ravaunni Menon used to hold regular practice sessions in the precincts of the local Kanthalloor temple transforming the sleepy riverside hamlet into a reverberating training centre for Kathakali in the process.
That Vellinezhi could produce such master performers like Ramankutty Nair, Padmanabhan Nair and Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair to Kerala Kalamandalam testifies to the pride of place it emjoys in the history of
Kathakali.
Of equal significance is Olappamanna Mana, the famed Namboodiri 'Illam' which was a virtual temple of learning and arts. It had produced such erudite scholars like O.M.C. Namboodiripad who took upon himself the arduous task of rendering the Rigveda in Malayalm, with singleminded devotion. 'Olappamanna', eminent poet and former chairman of Kerala Kalamandalam, O.M. Anujan, poet-critic, and writer Sumangala are the present perpetuators of the Mana's lofty tradition. Journalist-turned-director, R. Sarath, has made a documentary on the Kathakali village aptly titled 'Vellinezhi - The Art of Living'. Interspersed with interviews with illustrious artistes such as Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair, Ramankutty Nair and Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair, Sarath traces the hoary history of Vellinezhi in snippet-like sequences and anecdotes.
Scripted by Sarath the 45 - minute film has emerged as a living document of a unique village and its people to whom art is a sublime vocation and a way of life. |
