Kerala Theatre

The tradition of theatre in India starts before Christ since Koodiyattam, the Sanskrit theatre tradition, now surviving only in Kerala, is believed to be more than 2,000 years old. Modern drama reached Kerala’s shores a little over a century ago, when Kerala Varma Valia Koyi Tampuran translated and adapted Kalidasa’s Shakuntalam into a format suited for a theatrical. This set in motion a trend of making translations of well-known Sanskrit play.

Before 1898, Kerala Theatre carried on the Sanskrit tradition of Koodiyatam and Kathakali, which uses Sanskrit’s Malayalam verses as repertoire is considered a pantomimic dance drama. Popularizing Kerala theatre by setting up theatre companies was a new idea and it was only in pockets that the idea took hold; Thiruvattar Narayana Pillai launched the first company in the south, while Chathukutty Mannadiar spearheaded the Rasikaranjini Sabha in central Kerala. In both these areas, strong passion for music extended the life span of the musical dramas that had widespread appeal. In the north, the growing popularity of drama troupes ran parallel to the decline of the Namboodiris and Nairs, who formed the landed gentry and were patrons of the arts like Kathakali and Koodiyatam. Instead, there evolved a genre of drama that drew on the theatre style projected by Tamil Nadu.

This overwhelming Tamil presence was arrested with the arrival of singers-actor. Enthused by the growing presence of Malayali actors, production groups were born and were well received at the annual temple festivals. Themes chosen by Kerala theatre enthusiasts acquired a new color, moved away from the conventional and took up socially relevant sociological themes dealt by persons of the caliber of CV Raman Pillai and EV Krishna Pillai.

A revolution in ideas

An epochal play- Adukalayilninnu arangathekku by VT Bhattathiripad and Ritumati by MP Bhattathiripad, proved to be the clarion call for reform among the closed Namboodiri community. The emergence of ideology of the communism challenged entrenched social inequalities and inspired a society that was caught in transition from the feudal to the modern. Plays began to voice political and social ideas.

The talented playwright duo of brothers Kainikkara Padmanabha Pillai and Kumara Pillai presented Kalvariyile, Kalpapadam, on the life of Jesus. Notable experimental productions on these lines was CJ Thomas’ Aa Manushyan ni tanne which paved the way for future experimentation and the Ramayana trilogy by CN Sreekantan Nair, which was the great event in the history of Kerala theatre in India.

Kerala theatre in India was at the crossroads in the post Second World War period, which saw the emergence on the national level of the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA), established in 1951.

Professional Groups

With the inspiration from the IPTA, the Communist Party of India formed the Kerala People’s Theatre Association (KPAC) also in 195. KPAC captured public imagination and attention EMS Namboodiripad was the central to its working. Troupes traveled throughout the state creating new aesthetics of stage and as a genre, amateur theatre received a thrust with the setting up of Kalanilayam Theatres by Kalanilayam Krishna Nair.

Experimental theatre in Kerala

Theatre doyen G Sankara was the pioneer and head of the School of Drama which cast its influence on a generation of new young minds. He led the parallel theatre movement and experimenting with the theatre of the absurd, produced some great works.

Striking a unique blend of traditional Kerala and craving a special space for style was Kavalam Narayana Panikkar. Relying mainly on Sanskrit texts and folk arts, he molded a new style of theatre presentation, to rediscover tradition.

New Voices

Theatre in Kerala now became the instrument for social change. Organization like the Kerala Shasthra Sahitya Parishatha took to popularizing science and creating awareness in far flung. Issues like Women’s right, using medium of street plays, were touched upon and highlighted. Jose Chiramel, Ramachandran Mokeri, Madhu Master, Raghoothaman, Kaladharan were the leading lights of street theatre in Kerala. KJ Baby’s Nattugaddika was a play with strong messages presented by the tribes of Wayanad, structured from the tribal myths and rituals. KV Ganesh possesses a name of his own in the stream of children’s theatre. A versatile talent in theatre that emerged during the last two decades is Samkutty Pattomkary, an outstanding playwright and director.

Amateur groups that schooled with the academic training from the School of Drama used the medium to experiment and present adaptations as well as original plays. There were also troupes that staged run-of-the mill plays, melodrama, and in-the-face acting; all of which their audiences too.

Other Cultural Activities In Kerala

Kerala Architecture || Kerala Cinema