Retelling of the Urvasi-Pururavas love story for the first time in Koodiyattam

Koodiyattam artiste Sooraj Nambiar staged the fourth act from Kalidasa’s Vikramorvaseeyam

The architects of Koodiyattam, the Sanskrit theatre tradition that survives only in Kerala, is the Chakyar community for whom the performance of the art form is ‘Kuladharma’ (family duty). While the works of various well-known poets have remained the mainstay of this art form, it is surprising to note that the Chakyars have been less enthusiastic about the works of Kalidasa, who is popular across the globe.

It was Koodiyattam exponent G. Venu who broke the norm and performed Kalidasa’s Abhignanasakutalam in 2003. The worldwide recognition it received encouraged Venu to stage the first three Acts of Vikramorvasiyam.

Recently, Sooraj Nambiar, an ace performer and a disciple of the maestro Ammannur Madhava Chakyar sprang a surprise by presenting the fourth Act — for the first time in the history of Koodiyattam. With experience of over three decades in this art form, Sooraj premiered his production Unmatha Vikraman at Natanakairali, Irinjalakuda.

The two-hour solo play was an exposition of Sooraj’s histrionics as well as his dexterity as a choreographer.

The play revolves around episodes that follow the separation of Urvasi and king Pururavas. It shows how the despondent king wanders in the forests in search of her. He mistakes the lightning and dark clouds for a demon who has abducted Urvasi. Rains appear like a shower of arrows to him. Enraged, Pururavas begins to throw soil at them. But soon realises it is monsoon time and calms down.

While journeying through the forest, Pururavas enquires about Urvasi from peacock, cuckoo, swan, elephants and the river. All of them seem to be indifferent to his queries. Finally, he finds the Samgamaniya gem (formed from the juice of the hibiscus flower that flowed from the feet of Parvathy) among the rocks. Legend has it that this could be instrumental in his reunion with Urvasi.

Pururavas next hugs a vine thinking it to be Urvasi. The divine power of the gem immediately transforms it into Urvasi, who carries the king to the cloud.