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Kerala - Its Contribution to Indian History & Culture
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01-17-2007, 12:53 PM
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Beerinkol
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Nala is inflamed with love and eager to see Damayanthi. They had never met each other, but nevertheless have fallen in love. Nala wonders how he can seek and win her. He asks the moon, the passing cloud, and the cool breeze to carry this message of love to his beloved. Kalamandalam Shanmughan was at his expressive best while enacting the Nalacharitham first day at Vyloppilli Samskriti Bhavan.
The connoisseurs were astounded to see Shanmughan as Nala since he is known for his sthree veshams. Earlier he had performed the role of Damayanthi many times, even with stalwarts like Kalamandalam Gopi. Shanmughan had already proved his dexterity in both male and female roles.
Says Shanmughan: “This is not my debut male role. I have portrayed the role of Krishna, which has definite Kalarichitta. The role of Nala, is different in that it has no kalarichitta and entirely on the manodarmam. I never say that my portrayal of Nala is perfect. Precision comes only with practice. It also remains a fact that only a few can do female roles with consummate ease.
The actor requires the twin attributes of a charming appearance and flexible physique. Actors twice blessed like shanmughan are few and far between.
For him taking up a female role is a matter of survival. Being relatively junior, he has to bide his time to get a good male role. He feels that doing both can do more harm than good. THE FEMALE CHARACTERS ARE LASYA ORIENTED. The male ones are the thandava type.
Enacting the role of Nala in Nalacharitham day one is no cake walk. The rasa/emotion is vipralamba sringara or separated love. There is less scope for angika abhinaya. The movements are lasya as the poetic and romantic text and are best conveyed through gentle lyrical movements. It demands satwika abhinaya. His experience in doing female roles has definitely come in handy. Forlorn love is immaculately captured in his female gestures.
He has devoted considerable time for mukha abhinayam. One could read a heart felt emotion even at the tip of his nose. That was an emotional experience for the audience.
Shnamughan is a native of Pullangiri in Chempakulam known for Kathakali tradition. The village has produced great masters like Kunjupilla panicker, chempakkulam pachchu pilla, and Guru Gopinath. A product of Kerala Kalamandalam he is still undergoing training under Vasu Pisharadi.
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