IMPHAL, March 14: Believed to be the oldest classical of all performing arts tradition in India, Workshop cum Festival of Kutiyattam was inaugurated here today at the auditorium of Production Unit of the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy Imphal.
Speaking as the chief guest of the inaugural ceremony, dance exponent RK Danisana Singh exhorted that the idea of India is its cultural plurality and the varied artistic expressions like music, dance and literature embedded in it. The 91 years old dance guru extended his happiness to the dance troupe of Kutiyattam Kendra, Thiruvananthapuram on their visit in Imphal.
Prof H Tombi Singh, Vice Chairman of JNMDA, giving the presidential speech maintained that the Workshop cum Festival is a good opportunity for artist and dance enthusiasts of Manipur to have a close encounter with the classical art form. “I have little knowledge about the art form which was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2001. But I am glad that we will be able to experience it in this 3-day gathering”, he added.
Speaking to the IFP, on the side-lines of the function, KK Gopalakrishnan, Director of Kutiyattam Kendra, Thiruvananthapuram noted that JNMDA Production Unit’s performance space is perfect for Kutiyattam. “The performance requires affinity with the audience. I feel excited that some artists of Manipur have observed slight similarity of rhythm between Kutiyattam and Manipuri dance during our brief interaction. We are going to explore more on it”, he said.
Further he elucidated that the art form had remained confined within the folds of Brahminical practice entirely in the temples. “It was until 1956 that guru Paimkulam Rama Chakyar took a bold step of performing outside the temple. He started imparting training to students of non-Chakyar caste in 1965, which has been a rebellious act of the guru”, he added.
The Director also divulged his concern of dwindling down of the rich traditional practice in the present time fast paced life. “So the best thing is to disseminate it. It cannot be popularised like cinema or modern songs catering to mass audience. Kutiyattam requires a select audience to appreciate its beauty and philosophy”, he said.
It may be mentioned that the 3-day Workshop cum Festival will have a series of lectures and demonstration followed by interaction sessions. The evenings are marked with performance daily at 6, to be presented by the visiting troupe of Thiruvananthapuram.