News Excerpt:
More than 500 women from Kudumbashree units across Kerala staged a Chavittu Natakam performance at Durbar Hall Grounds in Kochi.
About Chavittu Nadakam:
- Chavittu Natakam, a colourful and vigorous theatre form, is believed to have originated after the arrival of the Portuguese on the Kerala shores.
- A classical art form originated in the Ernakulam District of Kerala State during the 17th Century AD, Gothuruth is believed to be the birthplace of Chavittu Natakam.
- Since many celebrations and cultural programmes took place in Gothuruth, the island is now known as the ' Island of Festivals’.
- Art forms like Kathakali and Kalaripayattu have also influenced Chavittu Natakam.
- There is abhinaya in angika (gestural), vachika (vocal) and aharya (costume) format, but no satvika element. The trainer is known as Annavi.
- Costumes: It has a significant Portuguese character in its costumes. They include brocade dresses, headgear and crowns.
- Unlike other performing arts, this drama is presented on a raised platform made of planks spread on a skeleton wood structure.
- Actors don in colourful Roman attires enact stories from the Bible with rich dialogues and songs to the accompaniment of the beating of country drums.
- It has a high resemblance to European Opera.
- The whole play, a combination of dance and instrumental music, is likened to a musical. The bell and drum are two instruments used for the background score.
- Stamping Drama: The predominant feature of this art is artistes stamping (chavittu) the dance floor, producing resonant sounds to accentuate the dramatic situations along with their song.
Conclusion:
Chavittu Natakam is the only Indian version of a European ballet in the present times and characters talk and sing. It may not be as famous as the other Kerala dance forms, but Chavittu Natakam is rising to be an important art form of Indian heritage.
