
Revisiting Kathakali classics
The Hindu
‘Nalacharitam’ and ‘Soorpanakhangam’ staged at Kalakshetra’s festival used different sensibilities to explore two classics
Man-woman love and its vicissitudes came alive on two consecutive evenings at ‘Bhava Bhavanam Anubhavam’, Kalakshetra’s three-day Kathakali festival. While one story was conceived three centuries ago, the other is barely three years old.
The inaugural show featured ‘Nalacharitam’, penned by Unnayi Variyar (1674-1754). The popular classic has strengthened its presentation structure down the ages, yet it largely sticks to conventional aesthetics, as reiterated by the maestros at the festival.

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