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 Vasai Fine Arts Festival of music and dance- Vijay Shankere-mail: vijaydance@gmail.com January 28, 2026 One of the leading cultural organisations of the western suburb of Mumbai, Vasai Fine Arts organised a festival of classical music and dance for five days which commenced on 3rd December and concluded on 7th December at Prarthana Mandapam, opposite Sabirigiri Ayyapa Temple in Vasai west. This festival marks the final phase of the 10th anniversary celebrations of Vasai Fine Arts, which was formally inaugurated by veteran journalist Alaknanda. Malayalam film stars and dignitaries who attended the festival were Seema G Nair, Sijo Varghese, Rachana Narayanankutty and Mattanur Sankarankutty, chairman of the Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademi and acclaimed percussionist. The festival made a divine commencement with the chanting of Ayyappa Sahasranamam by Guru Nandini Madhavan and her disciples, followed by dance performances by accomplished mentors from Mumbai with their disciples - Dr Lata Surendra, Smita Manoj Nair, Sathi Vijaykumar and Pavitra Bhat. The highlight of the festival was the Thullal trio with the combination of Ottan Thullal, Parayan Thullal and Sheethankan Thullal, led by Kalamandalam Suresh Kaliyath, dance drama Monsoon Anuraga by Rachana Narayanankutty and her talented team in the Kuchipudi style, and Kathakali by the PSV Natya Sangham group from Kottakkal. The second day featured group dance performances by Kalamandalam Rajitha Nair, Nisha Gilbert, Dr Chitra Viswanathan, Saigeetha Mohan and Lakshmi Sibi Sathyan. The evening concluded with an exciting Kalaripayattu display by Vadakara Choorakoodi Moosa and his team. The large team of smart boys demonstrated various defence techniques with the usage of shield and sword, sticks, weapons like knife, steel sheets etc. The young boys executed various ways of attacking your opponents while being alone or in groups. This Moosa group has performed in various prestigious events in India and overseas too. The third day featured an enthralling violin recital by child prodigy Ganga Sasidharan as a mark of tribute to the veteran violin maestro Bala Bhaskar. Ganga created a lasting impression on the packed audience, as she revealed her mastery over the stringed instrument through various classical and movie renditions. The fourth day commenced with a Kathakali workshop by Kalamandalam Biju who is in the faculty with Bhaskar Arts Academy in Singapore. He demonstrated the Navarasas and the salient features of Kathakali characterisation in which the characters are painted in green colour for noble characters, human and vicious characters with white, red and black beards pertaining to Sattvika, Rajasika and Tamasic characters. He also explained as to how a traditional Kathakali performance commences with the lighting of the "vilakku" (lamp), "tiranooku" (curtain look), while seeking divine intervention and blessings of all the co-artistes, before the unfolding of any story through dramatic interpretations.   Rachana Narayanankutty and her ensemble Rachana Narayanankutty had performed way back in 2016 and the rasikas were looking forward to her enthralling performance once again. She performed 'Monsoon Anuraga', a unique performance pertaining to the significance of the monsoon rains in the contemporary perspective in the Kuchipudi style. Many beliefs and rituals surrounding the monsoon in the Western Ghats emphasize the idea that our ancestors definitely worshipped and maintained an inseparable connection with nature. The production commenced with prayers to the Almighty and the stars, to Lord Indra, the lifting of Govardhana to save the people from the heavy storm and rain by Lord Krishna in Muthuswamy Dikshitar's interpretation of "Amruta varshini". On the whole, it was a beautiful extravaganza of melodious music, rhythmic dances blending well with the rains, capturing reverence and rapture with an aesthetic quality of execution. More than 40 shows of Monsoon Anuraga have already been presented. Choreography and direction by Rachana Narayanankutty, Narration - Mohanlal, Music - Bhagyalakshmi Guruvayur and Ramu Raj. Vocals - Bhagyalakshmi, Sanjith MT and Rachana Narayanankutty. Nattuvangam and Konnakkol - Udaya Dhanka Lal, mridangam by Kiran Gopinath, Moralee Krishna on veena, Paulson on sitar, Raghunandan Chalakkudy and Rajesh Cherthala on flute and lights by Sreekriti Cameo.  Thullal Thrayam Known as poor man's Kathakali, Ottan Thullal literally means running and jumping, hence the movements are based on the technique of Kathakali but not that stylized. Discovered by the composer Kunjan Nambiar, it draws mainly on the lokadharmi style of presentation, hence gets closer to the audience in varied levels. Normally it's a solo presentation wherein with "ekaharya abhinaya" the artiste enacts various roles, according to the need of the story. It was quite exciting to witness Thullal Thrayam in which three performers enact different roles and come together when particular scene arises. In the story "Kiratam," Lord Shiva appears as Katalan (hunter) along with Parvati and they dance and rejoice together with invocations. The second scene shows the severe penance of Arjuna. Katalan makes an appearance and also attacks a pig but that does not deter Arjuna. The Katalan provokes Arjuna and Arjuna starts fighting fiercely. Parvati gets worried and interferes and informs Arjuna that he does not know whom he is fighting with and suddenly the Katalan appears in his original form of Lord Shiva and Arjuna is shocked and asks for forgiveness. It was powerfully enacted by Kalamandalam Suresh Kaliyath as Katalan and Shiva, Kalamandalam Nayanan as Arjuna and Lakshmi Suresh as Parvati.  Suresh Kaliyath The festival concluded with a traditional Panchavadyam recital led by Kariyannu Narayanan Namboodiri and Kottakkal Ravi, followed by a grand Pandi Melam by Mela Pramanam of the Thrissur Puram Thuiryvambadi team - Cherusseri Kuttan Marar and Chovvalur Mohana Warrier and grand finale was the Kathakali presentation Duryodhana Vadham by the Kottakkal PSV Natya Sangham.  Duryodhana Vadham The game of dice ends with the downfall of the Pandavas, as they lose everything including Draupadi. Draupadi makes a dramatic entry from the audience, where she repeatedly falls amidst the audience, when she is attacked by Dushasana and tries to dodge him and ultimately ascends the stage. A stream of cloth unfolds in order to depict the disrobement but with the divine intervention of Lord Krishna she is protected and blessed but declares revenge against Dushasana and takes a vow to tie her hair only after it is being smeared with his blood. The climax scene again happens amidst the audience when Bhima appears and fights against Dushasana and ultimately Dushasana is killed. Bhima applies blood on the hair of Draupadi and she seeks the blessings of Lord Krishna. The key roles were enacted by Kottakkal A Unnikrishnan as Duryodhana, Kottakkal Muralidharan as Dushasana, Kottakkal Harikumar as Shri Krishna, Kottakkal Rajumohan as Panchali, Kottakkal Hariswaran as Dharmaputhran, Kottakkal Krishnadas as Bheema, Kottakkal Sriyesh as Arjuna, Kottakkal Navaneet as Nakul, Kottakkal Janadhathan as Sahadev, Kottakkal CM Unnikrishnan as Shakuni, Kottakkal Krishnadas as Dhritharashtra and Kottakkal Devadasan as Raudra Bheema. On the whole, it was a spectacular and dramatically intense performance. The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Kariyannur Narayanan Namboothiri, Kottakkal Ravi and Cherusseri Kuttan. Karuna Puraskar was delivered to Dr Abdul Nazar, chairman Akbar group of companies and the Young Entrepreneur Award was given to Rajeev Rajan, CEO of Sequence Communication. MBY Girish Nair, secretary of Vasai Fine Arts said, "The festival entry was free for everyone as festivals of such a magnitude hardly happens. Hence we want more people to come forward to attend and also we solicit corporate support without which nothing is possible".  Vijay Shankar is a Kuchipudi and Kathakali exponent, teacher, bilingual journalist, arts critic and actor. |
