'Poothanamoksham': An emotional portrayal of death

October 30, 2025

Kapila Venu enacting death throes of Poothana
(Photos: Manoj Parameswaran)

In the rich Kodungallur tradition, the 'Swaravayu' (breath) technique reaches its highest expression when an artiste explores the aesthetic and emotional interpretation of death. Deep research has been done into the technique of evoking by three generations of scholars in Kerala, Vidwan Ilaya Thampuran to Bhagavatar Kunjunni Thampuran. They often organised special training for Swaravayu or Navarasa abhinaya to the students of classical performance art forms like Kutiyattam and Kathakali. The legendary performers such as Pattikkamthody Ravunni Menon's portrayal of Keechaka's death, and Ammannur Madhava Chakyar's enactment of Bali's death, have long stood as masterful examples of this approach. However, neither he nor his counterparts ever taught Navarasa abhinaya in its complete form to their disciples. And slowly this knowledge was lost in the annals of time.

Venu G's Navarasa Sadhana is a training method deeply rooted in the Indian Theatre tradition. Being the direct and closest disciple of Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar gave Venu access to snippets of the extremely classified information of the Swaravayu training that Guru Ammannur underwent during his time at the Kodungallur Palace. Amalgamating this knowledge with his training in Kutiyattam and years of extensive research on the forgoing arts of Kerala, Venu G developed the Navarasa Sadhana about two decades ago as a tool to strengthen the actors' capability of delivering an aesthetic excrescence.

During the revival phase of Nangyarkoothu, Ammannur Madhava Chakyar choreographed Poothana's Death, which was recently performed by the renowned artiste Kapila Venu at Natanakairali, Irinjalakuda, as part of the Navarasa Sadhana Workshop. The audience, comprising artistes and actors from across India, was deeply moved by the performance, making it a transcendent experience.

In his opening address, Guru G. Venu explained the pedagogy and nuances of the Kodungallur abhinaya tradition. Dr. Sneha Sasikumar narrated the story of Poothanamoksham, offering the audience a clearer grasp of the tale.