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Mani Madhava Chakyar

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Nātyāchārya Vidūshakaratnam Padma Shri Māni Mādhava Chākyār (1899 - 1990)
The Doyen of Kutiyattam and Abhinaya

Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar ( Māni Mādhava Chākyār, Sanskrit:मािण माधव चाक्यार्, Malayalam:മാണി മാധവ ചാക്യാര്) ( 15 February 1899 - 14 January 1990) was a performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, South India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam ( ancient Sanskrit drama theatre ) artist and authority of modern times.[1] He was considered as the authority of Abhinaya (Acting).

He was well versed in all the traditional Koodiyattams and all the prabandhas used in Chakyar Koothu. He had an exceptional ability to perform Rasa-Abhinaya[2]. His Netrābhinaya[3] was world famous and he was had the ability to act only with eyes. He was able to explain the concepts, methods and practices of Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu in a clear and scientific way. He had an in depth study of Nātyaśāstra of Bharata Muni, as well as different ways of acting which were popular in Kerala. His knowledge and mastery over both theory and practice of Koodiyattam were superb. He was a veteran teacher and practitioner of these art forms and sanskrit. He was the first to take Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu outside the precincts of the temples of Kerala to all over India and to impart training in Koodiyattam to non-Chakyar disciples including foreigners.

He was a Sanskrit scholar of supreme rank and was used to give lectures and talks in Sanskrit. He is the author of Nātyakalpadrumam - the authoritative encyclopedic treatise on all aspects of Koodiyattam. He was a Fellow of important national art academies like Sangeet Natak Akademi[4] and recipient of many prestigious titles like "Nātyāchārya", "Vidūshakaratnam" and prestigious Awards like Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award etc.

Early life and Education

Mani Madhava Chakyar in one of his most celebrated role, as Ravana, at the age of 89, at Tripunithura. It was one of his last public Koodiyattam performance

Māni Mādhava Chākyār was born on February 15, 1899, in his ancestral home at, Thiruvangayoor near Karayad, of Kozhikode district of Kerala. His father was Vishnu Śarma and mother was Savithri Illotamma. He belongs to the family of Māni Chakyars of North Kerala, who for centuries have been the custodians of Koodiyattam - the traditional Sanskrit theatre and Chakyar Koothu - another classical art form based on Sanskrit Champu Kavyas.

He had his training in Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam in the traditional way, under the direct guidance of his uncles who were great scholars and masters of these art forms. They were Guru Māni Parameswara Chakyar, Guru Māni Neelakandha Chakyar and Guru Māni Narayana Chakyar. He belongs to the great "Mani" tradition of Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu which gives importance to both Rasa-abhinaya and Vachika-abhinaya.

He was a Sanskrit scholar of supreme rank. He used to give lectures in Sanskrit. He studied Alankarashastra, Nātyaśāstra, Vyakarana, Nyaya, Jyotisha, etc. in the traditional way, under great scholars such as Panditaratnam Pazhedathu Sankaran Nampoothiripad. He was the beloved student of one of the greatest scholars of all time His Highness Darsanakalanidhi Rama Varma Parikshith Thampuran (Maharaja of Cochin). He had his higher studies in Nyayashastra and Natya Shastra under him. Mani Madhava Chakyar taught Sanskrit at Balakollasini Sanskrita Pathasala of Killikkurussimangalam.

His first performance (Arangettam) of Koodiyattam was at the age of 14 at Trikkaikkunnu Temple of North Kottayam of Malabar. He used to perform the huge number of Atiyantara koothus of Mani family (the koothus which are assigned to the family from ancient times) in large number of temples stretching entire Malabar to Thrissur. It consist of all devotional ritualistic Koothus and Koodiyattams including Anguliyanka, Mattavilasa Prahasana, Mantranka, Ezhamanka ( seventh act of Ascharyachoodamani) about eight decades continuously in various famous temples of Kerala. It include very famous ancient Kerala temples like Matayikkavu Bhagavathi Temple of Kannoor, Taliparamba Rajarajeshwara Temple, Kottiyoor Perumal Temple, Lokanarkavu Templeof Vatakara, Thali (Tali) Siva Temple of Kozhikkode, Thirunavaya Navamukunda temple, Pandamangalam Krishna temple of Kottakkal, Kotakkal Vishwambhara (Shiva) temple, Kallekkulagara Emoor Siva temple, Triprayar Sri Rama temple, Peruvanam Shiva temple of Cherpu, Avittathur Shiva Temple etc.

His wife late P.K Kunjimalu Nangiaramma was also an expert in Koodiyattams, NangyarKoothu and various Ragas used for the art form. She was the daughter of his uncle great guru Māni Parameswara Chakyar.

Master of Rasa-Abhinaya

Sringāra Rasa-abhinaya by Guru Māni Mādhava Chākyār at the age of 89.

He is considered as the all time great master of Rasa-abhinaya' (enacting different sentiments in their perfection) with special reference to Netrābhinaya (enacting different sentiments, etc. through the beautiful and masterly movements of eyes only). He was exceptionally great in the field of Swatika-Abhinaya.

He was well known for his roles ( which has importance of Abhinaya in Koodiyattams ) like Ravana (Katti vesha), Arjuna (Pacha vesha), Udayana(Pacha vesha), Jeemootavahana (Pazhukka vesha) etc. His abhinaya of the parts of Kutiyattam like Kailasoddhārana (lifting of Kailasa) and Pārvatī Viraha (separation of Pārvatī)[5], enriched with the Netrabinaya and Pakarnnaattam - Abhinaya (actor playing the role of another or more than one character shifting constantly without changing costume), were very famous and widely acclaimed.

He was considered as a reference to Abhinaya (acting) and his ability to perform the same was considered as "the perfect" by world renowned art critcs like (late) Dr. V. K Narayana Menon (adviser BBC, former Presidant of Sangeet Natak Akademi(New Delhi), National Centre for the Performing Arts(Bombay) etc.). His ability to perform Netrābhinaya is considered as one of the wonders of the art world, ranking alongside the symphonies of Beethoven. [6]

Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj considered him as one of the greatest actors - "He had his own style. He could convey his thoughts through expressions. His eye movement was superb!"[7]

Noted scholar late Stella Kramrisch ( Curator of Indian Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art ) described him as "the greatest eye-wizard of the world", after seeing his Netrābhinaya.

Great Bharatanatyam dancer Balasaraswati remarked about the maesto "When i say Abhinaya, oh, I can't do the abhinaya like what the great man did here yesterday" next day after Chakyar's lecture-demonstration at Madras Music Academy in 1973.

He was known for his extra ordinary ability for expressing the NavaRasas (nine Rasas) to its supreme extent and the photos of the same are and being archived in many Art Institutions and Academies like Sangeet Natak Academy of India and museums all over the world.

Mani Madhava Chakyar and his troop performing Thoranayudham Koodiyattam (1962- Chennai). It was the first Koodiyattam performance outside Kerala. Mani Madhava Chakyar as Ravana, Mani Neelakandha Chakyar as Hanuman, Mani Damodara Chakyar as Vibhishana & PK.G Nambiar as Bhata.

He brought Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam outside Koothambalams of Hindu temples. The first Koodiyattam performance outside Kerala was held at Chennai (1962) by his troop. He performed Koodiyattam all over India and popularized the same. He along with his troop did Koodiyattam performance in places like New Delhi, Varanasi, Ujjain, Bombay, Madras, Bhopal etc.

The President of India, great scholar and philosopher, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan invited him to perform Kutiyattam at Rashtrapati Bhavan (presidencial palace) in 1964 and was impressed by the Guru's exceptional acting skill. His Kutiyattam performances, lectures and demonstrations at well known centres like National Centre for the Performing Arts in Bombay, International Centre for Kathakali in New Delhi, Madras Music Academy in Chennai fetched wide popularity and recognition for his Abhinaya and Kutiyattam.

He choreographed and directed acts of the plays like Kalidasa's Abhijñānaśākuntala, Vikramorvaśīya and Mālavikāgnimitra ; Bhasa's Swapnavāsavadatta and Pancharātra; Harsha's Nagananda for the first time in the history of Koodiyattam.

When his guru, His Highness Darsanakalanidhi Rama Varma Parikshith Thampuran wrote a new Sanskrit champu prabandha called Prahlādacharita and requested some senior artists to study and perform the same on the Chakyar Koothu stage, they said it was impossible for them to stage such a new prabandha. Then the guru asked Mani Madhava Chakyar, who was then a comparatively young artist, to try. He agreed and studied a part of the prabandha within one night and performed the same on the next day at Tripunithura - the then capital of Cochin state! The incident made great scholars to accept his mastery over both Sanskrit and the classical art form. After some months, he performed entire Prahlādacharita at the same stage.

Sruti (August 1991) issue dedicated to Guru Maani Maadhava Chakyar


He performed Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam for All India Radio and Doordarshan for the first time, which helped to attract thousands of listeners to these traditional art forms. It was he who started demonstrations in Kudiyattam to popularise the same.

He taught Koodiyattam for the first time to a non-Chakyar - Nambiar caste member. It was a Polish student named Maria Christopher Byrski[8] ( currently at Department of Indology, Warsaw University), who was then a research student at Banaras Hindu University, came to study the only surviving ancient Sanskrit drama Koodiyattam, from its great Guru around early 1960s. He stayed at Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar's home and studied Koodiyattam in its traditional Gurukula way. Lot of research scholars came to study the Sanskrit drama from the ultimate exponant of Kutiyattam and Abhinaya Mani Madhava Cakyar. Dr. Farley Richmond (University of Georgia, USA), noted Sanskrit drama scholar also studied about the ancient Sanskrit art form under Mani Madhava Chakyar by staying at his home at Killikkurussimangalam. He had filmed Rasa Abhinaya and Kutiyattam of the maestro.[9] Eminent scholar and Indian theatre scholar Goverdhan Panjal also has learnt under the guru.[10]


When Kerala Kalamandalam (a school for the performing arts) was founded by Vallathol Narayana Menon (great Malayalam poet who reformed Kathakali), he invited the greatest Guru of Rasa-abhinaya, Mani Madhava Chakyar as the master trainer for Rasa-abhinaya to the Kathakali students. Later Kerala Kalamandalam, PSV Natyasangham- Kottakkal and Gandhi Seva Sadanam Kathakali Academy- Perur used his services as visiting professor of Rasa-abhinaya and taught advanced students in Kathakali and Kutiyattam. [11] [12] [13] He is known as the master who gave eyes to Kathakali.

His influence in the field of different classical performing arts of Kerala is famous. Many Koodiyattam, Kathakali, Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam artists were trained by this great master.[14][15] [16] Many great Kathakali artists including the legendary Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, Guru Kelu Nair, Anand Shivram, Guru Gopinath, Sadanam Krishnan Kutty are his disciples. [17] [18] [19] [20]

Guru, who was an eminent teacher and performer opened a training centre called Mani Madhava Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam for teaching Kutiyattam, Chakyar Koothu and related artforms at Killikkurussimangalam(Lakkidi).[21][22]

Awards, Titles and Honours

File:Mani Madhava Chakyar Award.jpg
Mani Madhava Chakyar receiving Central Sangeet Natak Academy Award (New Delhi) from Dr.S Radhakrishnan - the President of India, in 1964. It was the first national recognition to a Koodiyattam - Chakyar Koothu artist.

Mani Madhava Chakyar is recipient of innumerable Awards, Titles and Degrees. He is one of the most felicitated artist from Kerala. His first major recognition came from the great Bhattan Thampuran[23] (Bhatta Raja) of Kodungallur himself at the age of 22. Bhattan Thampuran awarded him with a “Mudramothiram” (signed ring) (1921). Although he received a lot of awards, till death Mani Madhava Chakyar considered this Mudramothiram as the greatest award that he ever got. He received the most prestigious sacred Vīrasringhala or Veerashringhala ( It’s a kind of Golden Bracelet, given to the greatest artist/scholar of that era. ) from the great Taliparamba Rajarajeshwara Temple (1923). He is the youngest one to receive this precious award, which is being given to the scholars of the supreme rank, only by the unanimous approval of a special body of temple consisting of eminent scholars. Till date no one else has received a Veerashringhala from there after Mani Madhava Chakyar.[24] In 1930, he was awarded with the title “Nātyāchārya” (Guru of Natya) by Katathanadu Valiya Thampuran (Raja of Katathanadu). Another major Vīrasringhalas that he received are; from Valiya Thampuran of Kottakkal Kovilakam (1952), from Urpassikkavu of Thalassery, from His Holiness Jagadguru Shri Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham (1961), from Samoothiri Raja of Kozhikkode, given at the eve of Koodiyattam performance at Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple (1964) and from Tripunithura Kovilakam (1989). He was honoured with ponnada (a kind of silk cloth given as a gesture of honour and respect) from Maharani (Queen) Of Travancore, presented through Mahakavi Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer at Vaikkam Mahadeva Temple. He was honoured by HH. Rajah of Palakkad by presenting a Keshabharam Kireetam[25] at Hemambika Temlpe of Kallekkulangara. He has received Gold Medals from Valiya Raja of Katathanadu, Pallikkunnu Bhagavathy Temple of Kannoor etc.

He received the title “Vidūshakaratna”, again from the great Taliparamba Rajarajeshwara Temple (1954) for his excellence in performing “vidūshaka” part in Koodiyattam. Government of India conferred him with Padma Shri (1974) and Emeritus Fellowship (1982). He was conferred by an honorary degree from Banaras Hindu University in 1964.

He has received major National and International awards such as

He was the first Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam artist to receive each of these recognitions. He is one of the most falicitated artist from Kerala. Kerala Sangeet Natak Academy's annual Koodiyattam Award is known as Maani Madhava Puraskaram[30] as a tribute to the maestro.

He has received numerous Honours and Certificates from distinguished institutions and individuals such as Akhila Bharata Sanskrit Sammelan (World Sanskrit Conference)- New Delhi, Samskrita Ranga - Chennai, Fifth World Sanskrit Conference - Banaras, Anushtanakalapravina title from Fine Arts Society of Kochi, Dr.S. Radhakrishnan, Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh ( Maharaja of Kasi ), Satyanarayana Sinha, Bishnu Ram Medhi, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer, Maharaja of Kollengode, Vallathol Narayana Menon, Dr. V. Raghavan, Rukmini Devi Arundale, Dr.V.K Narayana Menon, Dr.Kapila Vatsyayan etc. etc.

Eventhough Guru Mani Madhava Chakkiyar received lot of national recognitions art critics widely believe that he truly deserved a lot more. [31]

Publications

Main article: Nātyakalpadruma
Nātyakalpadrumam-
the master treatise on Kutiyattam

He has written an authoritative, award winning book (in Malayalam) on Koodiyattam called Nātyakalpadrumam (1975).[32] This monumental work is being used as a reference by scholars and students. Natyakalpadrumam deals with all aspects of Koodiyattam in a scientific and critical manner. This book is unarguably considered as the encyclopedia of Koodiyattam. It has won the prestigious Kerala Sahitya Academi Award (1976).[33] This book is also translated into Hindi by Sangeet Natak Akademi of New Delhi.[34] [35] [36]

One of his other book is Matha Vilasam, which is about the choreography and play part ( actor's manual - Attaprakara) used in Mattavilasaprahasana Koodiyattam. He has also written the Attaprakaras of Abhijñānaśākuntala, Swapnavāsavadatta and Nagananda (Not published).

His biography (in Malayalam), Mani Madhaveeyam (1991) was published by Department of Cultural Affairs Publications of the Government of Kerala.[37] The book gives the picture of astonishing accomplishing and momentous life of the great Guru. It gives an excellent account of his struggles and his lifelong devotion towards the art form. The book includes Guru's memoirs of his illustrious stage life spanning about 80 golden years. Book contains a lot of rare photos giving us an insight to maestro's both personal and theatre life.

Guru has written numerous articles, papers and books on various aspects of Koodiyattam, Abhinaya, Raagas, Natyasastra, Chakyar Koothu etc.

Films and Documentaries

Mani Madhava Chakyar performing Chakyar Koothu

There are several films and documentaries featuring Māni Mādhava Chakyar's Rasa-Abhinaya, Koodiyattam performances, life etc.

Mani Madhava Chakyar: The Master at Work ( 1994, KN Panikar, Central Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi) is a biographical film on the life and work of Mani Madhava Chakyar.[5][38][39]

Parvati Viraham (1993, Central Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi) features Mani Madhava Chakyar as Ravana in the Pārvatī Viraham (separation of Pārvatī) in Koodiyattam form. It includes the famous Pakarnnattam abhinaya of the maestro.[5]

In Manifestations of Shiva (1981, Malcolm Leigh& Stella Kramrisch, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Asia Society, USA)- critically acclaimed documentary film; he has performed as Lord Siva in Classical Indian dance form.[40] [41]

Kutiyattam- Sanskrit Theater of India[42] (Multimedia CD, Farley Richmond (University of Georgia), The University of Michigan Press, USA) contains rare videos of the maestro's Rasa Abhinaya including glimpses of his world famous Netrabhinaya. The CD also contains the audios of recital of various Shlokas and play parts by him in his unique unparalleled style.

Movie directed by Aziz about the life of guru is also stands out.

Chakyar Koothu performance of the prabandha Prahlādacharita, Prahladacharitham Chakyar Koothu (1986, audio, Harisree Audios, Kerala) gives unique feeling of the maestro's ability in narration and recital. It is unique since he hasn't performed Prahlādacharita after the death of his guru HH Rama Varma Parikshith Thampuran in 1964, except for this recording.

Many of his Koodiyattam, Chakyar Koothu performances, demonstrations, interviews etc. were documented by Doordarshan centres of New Delhi, Madras, Bombay, Thiruvananthapuram etc. and All India Radio and is still being broad casted all over India.

Death

Mani Madhava Chakyar died at the age of 91 on 14 January 1990 in a private hospital at Ottappalam due to natural causes. His body was cremated with full honours at his Killikkurussimangalam residence. There is a memorial to the Guru at the spot of his cremation.

References and Further Readings

Maani Maadhaveeyam

Main source of this article is the book -

Other references include

Notes

  1. ^ "Spectrum". The Sunday Tribune. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ enacting different sentiments in their perfection
  3. ^ enacting different sentiments, etc. through the beautiful and masterly movements of eyes only
  4. ^ supreme state art academy of Govt. of India
  5. ^ a b c "Films of [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], [[New Delhi]]". {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  6. ^ ;Dr. V. K Narayana Menon; Illustrated Weekly of India, Vol. XCIX- 37, Oct. 1-7, 1978, New Delhi, India
  7. ^ Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj about finest Indian dancers, available at http://www.rediff.com/millenni/birju.htm
  8. ^ He later became Polish Government Ambassador to India. Now at Warsaw University. He has written numerous articles about Sanskrit drama traditions, especially about Kutiyattam
  9. ^ http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006121601660100.htm&date=2006/12/16/&prd=mp&
  10. ^ http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEX20060803235248
  11. ^ http://www.kathakalisadanam.com/achievements.htm
  12. ^ http://www.keralatourism.org/index.php?zone=4&menu=59&id=11
  13. ^ "The Statesman".
  14. ^ http://www.kathakalisadanam.com/achievements.htm
  15. ^ http://ignca.nic.in/nl002404.htm#Abhinaya
  16. ^ http://narthaki.com/info/intervw/intrvw61.html
  17. ^ http://kerala4u.in/171/the_galaxy_of_gurus
  18. ^ http://www.sruti.com/Assets/Sruti_box_Feb07/obituary_guru_govindan_kutty.pdf.
  19. ^ http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/02/16/stories/2007021600800300.htm
  20. ^ http://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/IDH467/
  21. ^ "Training centres of Kerala, Kerala Govt".
  22. ^ http://www.indiaheritage.org/perform/dance/dkerala.htm#Kutiyattam
  23. ^ greatest Sanskrit scholar of Kerala in this century
  24. ^ http://www.geocities.com/chavanapuzha/cmp-scholars.htm
  25. ^ Kind of Crown used in Kutiyattam. See the crown in Image:Mani Madhava Chakyar as Ravana.jpg
  26. ^ Sangeet Natak Akademi official list of awardees http://www.sangeetnatak.com/programmes_recognition&honours_ofmdt.html
  27. ^ Govt. of India, Padma Shree Awardees http://www.india.gov.in/myindia/images/ps_awards.pdf.
  28. ^ Kalidasa Academy, Ujjain http://ujjain.nic.in/kalidasa_academi/kalidasa_samaroh.htm
  29. ^ Sunil Kothari, M.P. Government's cultural awards, Sruti. Issue 31, Apr 1987, p. 4-5 OCLC: 79366285 http://worldcat.org/oclc/79366285&referer=brief_results
  30. ^ http://www.kalakeralam.com/artnews/sangeetha_award.htm
  31. ^ Leela Venkatraman, The Hindu" http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo9812/98120100.htm
  32. ^ "Nāṭyakalpadrumam".
  33. ^ see section Miscellaneous http://www.dcbooks.com/Kerala.htm
  34. ^ "Books and films". Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi.
  35. ^ "Nāṭyakalpadruma : Kerala kī Kūṭiyāṭṭam nāṭyakalā kī rūparekhā(Hindi)".
  36. ^ "Natyakalpadruma (Hindi)".
  37. ^ Publications of Dept. of Cultre, Kerala Govt. http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_culture/books.htm
  38. ^ "Asia-Pacific Database on Intangible Cultural Heritage".
  39. ^ Mani Madhava Chakyar the master at work, http://worldcat.org/oclc/70799359&referer=brief_results
  40. ^ "Mani Madhava Chakkiar, [[British Film Institute]]". {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  41. ^ "Manifestations of Shiva".
  42. ^ "Kutiyattam Sanskrit Theater of India, Farley Richmond,[[University of Michigan Press]]". {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)

See also

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