[www.keralites.net] Kottakkal Sivaraman Kathakali Artist Died at 74 - His rare videos

Kottakkal Sivaraman Kathakali Artist Died at 74

Kottakkal Sivaraman acclaimed performing artiste who revolutionalised the portrayal of female roles in Kathakali, has passed away at his residence in Karalmanna in Palakkad district. He was 74.

Kottakkal Sivaraman, born in 1936, started learning Kathakali from his uncle-guru Padma Shri Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair at the PSV Natyasangham in Kottakkal. Known for his experiments with new ideas on stage with much success, Sivaraman had won the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi award.

Over the years, Sivaraman has acted with Kathakali actors of several generations in the state, but it was with Kalamandalam Gopi that he teamed up well to gain repute as a phenomenal pair on the stage. Together they acted, with Sivaraman as Damayanti and Gopi as Nalan, as Kunti-Karnan, as Mohini-Rukmangadan. Sivaraman's portrayal of Sairandhri (Draupadi in disguise as a maid) in Keechakavadham opposite Padma Bhushan Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair (as Keechaka) also earned him lots of stages and fame. Sivaraman is one among the rare leading Kathakali artistes to have not taught in any leading performing-art institutions.

Sivaraman has been recently cast more in male roles, where the magic of make-up would help him hide his advancing age. Though he still does female roles, Sivaraman also performs as Krishna (Kuchelavrittam) and Pushkara (Nalacharitam). He has choreographed a new storyplay (aattakkatha), Pingala, which is based on the 11th canto of the epic Bhagavatham.

An avid reader of books he is has special interest for puranas and books in Malayalam literature. Filmmaker M.R. Rajan has made a documentary on the master. The work, Nokku, went on to bag a national award in 2007.

He is survied by his wife Bhavani and others in the family.

The links below give you videos of "Nalacharitham" Kadhakali - Parts I, II & III

http://video. webindia123. com/dance/ kathakali/ nalacharitham/ 1/index.htm
http://video. webindia123. com/dance/ kathakali/ nalacharitham/ 2/index.htm
http://video. webindia123. com/dance/ kathakali/ nalacharitham/ 2/index.htm

Nandakumar

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