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Ammannur Madhava Chakyar's arangettam (first performance) as Sutradhar was at the Angadippuram Thirumandhanam Kunnu Bhagavati Temple when he was 11 years old. It was in 1931 when he was 13 years old, that he performed Sreerama's Purappad as his debut at the koothambalam of Vadakkumnathan Temple in Trichur. |
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The
greatest name in the history of dance and drama after Bharata is Kohala
whom some recensions (revisions) of Bharata's text itself – for example
the one in Kavyamala edition – mention as the author of Uttaratantra, suggesting
thereby that Bharata’s text would be the Purvatantra. All that developed
in the post Bharata period was codified by Kohala. In fact, all labours
of Kohala were so significant that it appears from Abhinavagupta's statement
that even Bharata’s text underwent a redaction on the impact of Kohala's
work.
('Uparupakas and Nritya-Prabhandas' by Dr. V Raghavan, Nartanam, May – Aug 2008) |
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Prof. Ashutosh Bhattacharya is the author of 'Chhau dances of Purulia' published by the Ravindra Bharati University in 1972. He claims that the word 'chhau' originates from 'chhak' in the local mundari language meaning the 'possessed.' The Chhau of Purulia seems to substantiate this claim what with its heart thumping drumbeats, arresting dhamsa trumpet, its high pitched shehnai and the dhol drummers who dance in frenzied ecstasy. |
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