State’s first exclusive Kathakali museum to come up on Pampa’s banks

Splendid life-size statues of Kathakali characters, detailed narrative on costume traditions, treasures shedding light on tradition of Kathakali are to be showcased at Pathanamthitta's first exclusive museum. Costing ₹1.5 crore, the museum is coming up at a river-side property donated by the Pathanamthitta Kathakali Club. It will feature display of Kathakali kalaris, facial make up, tapestry, ornaments, musical instruments, live performances with advanced technologies. A rich tradition spanning centuries awaits visitors.

An array of splendid life-size statues of Kathakali characters, divided and identified with the colour coding of facial make up and costume, will provide an extravagant spectacle against a minimal setting. Given close by will be a detailed narrative on the costume traditions and the subtle adjustments in weight and shape, which are mapped onto the facial features of each performer.

These works – along with several other treasures that shed a light into the tradition of Kathakali will go on show when the State’s first exclusive museum for the dance--drama will open its doors on the banks of the Pampa at Ayroor, Pathanamthitta next year. To be established at a cost of ₹1.5 crore under the `Destination Challenge’ of the Kerala government, the museum is coming up at a river-side property donated by the Pathanamthitta Kathakali club.

According to Ambily Prabhakaran, president of the local body, the Tourism department will allot ₹50 lakh towards the project while the remaining amount will have to be mobilised by the panchayat. Having prepared a detailed project report, the local body is now awaiting a technical sanction to kick-start the construction.

“The project report has been prepared by the Aranmula Vastu Vidya Gurukulam and steps are being initiated to obtain financial assistance from the District and Block Panchayats and also from the Asset Development Funds of legislators and MPs,’’, said Ms. Prabhakaran.

The idea of creating the museum here was conceived in consideration of the rich tradition of Ayroor as a hub of artists in the Thekkan Chitta (Southern School) of the art form and its high Kathakali literacy rate. One of the villages in the local body has recently officially rechristened itself as Kathakali Gramam while the panchayat has initiated a continuing education programme on Kathakali signs in all lower primary schools within its limits.

V.R. Vimal Raj, secretary of the Pathanamthitta District Kathakali Club that spearheads the art movement at Ayroor said the three - storey museum will comprise a display of the Kathakali kalaris, facial make up, tapestry, ornaments and various musical instruments.

“It will look to entertain and amuse, as much as inform visitors about a rich tradition that spans centuries. Live performances too will be staged with the help of advanced technologies like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality,’’ he explained.