| In
its bid to preserve and promote the lingering vestige
of Sanskrit theatre of India sustained in Kerala, the
Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi (the National Academy of
Music, Dance and Drama and an autonomous body of the Ministry
of Culture, Government of India), launched a Kutiyattam
Project in 1990-91. The Project was designed as a total
care programme and it provided regular support to the
handful institutions and artists existing in the field,
by way of funding training and regular performances, maintenance
etc.
The Kutiyattam Kendra, Thiruvananthapuram,
is a logical development of the Akademi’s project
in support of Kutiyattam. It has been set up as a ‘Centre
for Kutiyattam’ meant to provide support to the
entire field of this classical Sanskrit theatre. The Kendra
was inaugurated by the then Governor of Kerala Shri. R.
L. Bhatia in the presence of the then Chairman of the
Akademi Shri. Ram Niwas Mirdha on 27th May 2007.
In addition, the Kendra has instituted
a monthly ‘Gurudakshina’ to veteran Gurus
who have significantly contributed to sustain the tradition
against all odds. The Kendra also conducts performances,
workshops, interactive lecture-demonstrations, etc at
frequent intervals to disseminate the art, with an increased
focus on the youngsters. Since August 2012, a regular
venue for the art has been provided – marked by
performances on the evenings of every first and third
Wednesday at the Government Museum, Thiruvananthapuran,
in collaboration wth the Department of Museum, Govt of
Kerala. From November 2015 onwards, in association with Naimisharanyam Festival, Kannur, the Kendra is conducting monthly performances on the second Wednesday of every month at Jawahar Library Hall (Near Old Bus stand), Kannur. Programmes at these venues to start at dot 6 pm with a class on hand gestures and lecture-demonstration on the episode under performance by a competent practising artist. The priority is being accorded to outstanding
young artists who are from outside the traditional communities
and are deprived of traditional and ritual performance
space like the temples. |
