Originated in the late 1930s, `Kerala Natanam’ offers Kathakali in a simplified manner. Once an esoteric art form, confined to the courtyards of palaces and temples, Kathakali has now reached the layman, thanks to the genuine efforts of great artistes such as Guru Gopinath and Ragini Devi (mother of the great Indian dancer, Indrani Rehman).
The late Guru Gopinath developed his own style of Kathakali without compromising the traditional disciplines and the classical background. And his successors named it `Kerala Natanam’. “He was a born artist. His contribution was his ingenuity to expand the framework of tradition,” says Sasi Mohan, the editor of `Weblokam’ (the first Malayalam web portal from Kerala) and Guru Gopinath’s son in law.
Unlike other dance forms such as Bharathanatyam and Mohiniyattom, in KathaKali, one could debut only after twelve years of rigorous learning. In `Kerala Natanam’, you have the six-year syllabus. The strength, potential and adaptability of Kathakali is showcased in Kerala Natanam. This is achieved through the presentation of contemporary Indian and international themes instead of focusing on the usual mythological subjects. Ballets such as `Sree Yesunatha Vijayam’, `Divya Naadam’, `Sister Nivedita’, `Chandala Bhikshuki’ and `Kerala Piravi’ are among the successful experiments in Kerala Natanam.
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