Edasseri's
well-known poem Poothapattu, ever since
its publication in 1953 (Mathrubhumi
Weekly April 19, 1953), has been adapted
in a number of stages in the form of
vocal rendering, various dances, shadow
dancing, drama, etc. An audio cassette
is available featuring the vocal
rendering by V.K. Sasidaran. Now the Kathakali
maestro Kalamandalam Balasubrahmanian
(Head of Department, Kathakali North
Kerala Style, Kerala Kala Mandalam,
Cheruthuruthy, Kerala) has arranged the
Poem in Kathakali. The premiere of the
show was held in Guruvayoor
Temple on 22nd July 2005. Prof.
Balasubrahmanian has himself played the
role of Pootham (the Poltergeist), who,
taking the form of a pretty woman, lures
youngsters and sucks their blood and
makes a scrumptious dinner of them. The
story
has it that the Pootham once meets the
boy-child Unni and gets enchanted by his
childhood charm. She somehow detains him
and plays with him. This paves way to an
encounter with Unni's mother. The events
that follow changes the Pootham's mind
and she turns herself to a harmless
creature. The pretty woman has been
played by Mathur Muralikrishna.
Well-known artist Sasikala takes the
role of the mother Nangeli and her
daughter Sruthi that of Unni. Drums are
handled by Kalamandalam Narayanan
Namboothiri and Kalamandalam Sasi and
the poem has been set to Kathakali tune
by Kalamandalam Rajeev. |