Song, drama, dance, dialogue and colourful costume wove a rich tapestry to entrance the viewer at the Narada Gana Sabha Sathguru Gnananda Main Hall recently when the theatre group Shraddha presented Draupadi Kuravanji .
The production was staged by the Kattaikuttu Young Professionals Company founded by P. Rajagopal, a veteran and hereditary practitioner of the genre. This traditional form of theatre is performed in the villages of Tamil Nadu; its name derives from the wooden ornaments the performers wear. All-night koothus are staged as ritual and entertainment and they educate viewers about the stories in the Mahabharata.
The company and the Kattaikuttu Gurukulam run by Rajagopal and his wife Hanne M de. Bruin (originally from the Netherlands), are located at Punjarasantankal village near Kanchipuram. Rajagopal and Hanne have spent decades breaking down barriers—setting up a school in Kanchipuram where youngsters from an underprivileged background are trained in the traditional art and also undergo formal education; training girls in the art which is generally a male preserve, and creating koothus with a contemporary feel.
Draupadi Kuravanji was presented on four consecutive days under the auspices of well-known sabhas of the city. It was directed by Rajagopal while Hanne had designed the costume. This production featured youngsters in the 10 to 25 age group.
The kattiyakaran, the narrator or sutradhar in this art form, introduces the action, knits the story together and acquaints the audience with the characters. From the moment the two young kattiyakarans made their appearance twirling their batons and spinning around like tops, the audience was bowled over by the exuberance of the show. The younger of the two was actually pint-sized.
The Kuravanji dealt with the time when the Pandavas have just completed their years in exile and are to enter the one-year incognito phase. They need to procure grain to raise crop for their survival. Krishna advises Draupadi to disguise herself as a gypsy or kurati and enter the Kaurava court. She is to demand grain as a fee for her fortune telling. Meanwhile, Duryodhana is plotting with the wily Shakuni to perform the last rites of the Pandavas so that they will be considered dead and cannot claim their right to the throne.
Draupudi as a gypsy meets Duryodhana’s wife Bhanumathi and the wives of the Kaurava brothers. Startled by Draupadi’s narration of what transpired in the Kauravas’ court, Bhanumathi informs her husband. When he meets the kurathi, he suspects she is Draupadi and has her imprisoned.
Arjuna, disguised as her gypsy husband, comes to the palace and succeeds in rescuing her. They demand grain as their due. When they return to Krishna, they realise that they have been tricked as fresh grain has been roasted and will not sprout. But Krishna comes to their aid and with his divine power, makes it sprout. Duryodhana’s plan to perform the last rites of the Pandavas is also thwarted.
It was amazing how well the young artists enunciated their dialogue and sang their songs all the while executing their movements precisely.
The pint-sized kattiyakaran was a prodigious performer and stole the show. He was at his hilarious best when he extended his wrist to the gypsy to be tattooed. All the youngsters, trained meticulously by Rajagopal, gave excellent performances.
This is a form that depends on its narrative content for the clarity of the lyrics. The words were not clear owing to the amplification of the sound. As a result, much of the word content was lost. The musical instruments were wielded well but the mukha vina was too loud and this led to the words being drowned further.
‘Duryodhana’ was impressive. The young actor who played the role of the gypsy put in a highly charged performance but was over-energetic. The same went for ‘Arjuna.’ The show introduced many in the audience to a performing art form in their own language, which forms part of their rich cultural heritage. The charm of the performance, the vibrancy of the performers and the unifying force of the epic-based story made for a worthwhile and highly enjoyable experience.
