Dubai: Celebrating the ancient and highly structured classical performing arts from south Indian state of Kerala, the tenth edition of International Kathakali and Koodiyaattam Festival (IKKF) began in Dubai on Wednesday.
Known as ‘Utsavam 2016’, the festival of Indian classical drama, dance and musical performances is being held at Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain Theatre, Gems Wellington High School on Shaikh Zayed Road Dubai, organisers said in a press release.
Entry is free to the three-day event organised by ‘Traditions Live’ under the aegis of the Consulate General of India in Dubai.
Meera Sanal, managing director of Traditions Live, said: “We are proud to announce ‘Utsavam 2016’ with much pomp and grandeur as the festival completes 10th successful year. Since its inception in 2006, ‘Utsavam’ attracts a huge number of spectators and enthusiasts from the UAE and other Gulf countries as well. To celebrate the 10th edition, we have lined up a number of internationally acclaimed artistes from Kerala, considered to be doyens and virtuosos in their respective art forms.”
The line-up of artistes includes Padmasree Gopi Ashan, Padmasree Mattannoor Sankarankutty Marar, Kalaamandalam Unnikrishnan, Kalamandalam Sankara Warrier, Pathiyoor Shankarankutty, Kottakkal Madhu, Margi Vijayakumar, Vineetha Nedungadi and K.B. Rajanand. Accompanied by more than 30 artistes from Kerala in addition to supporting artistes from the UAE, these veterans will be unveiling a panoply of classical art forms such as Kathakali, Koodiyaattam, Thaayampaka, Mohiniyattam, Ottam Thullal, Sopana Sangeetham, and traditional Kerala ethnic percussions and vocal renderings during these three days.
“In order to mitigate the esotericism of these art forms and heighten their appreciation, selected artistes would be giving lectures and expatiate on the techniques and nuances of these art forms. The lecture-demonstrations, by noted Mohiniyattam artiste Vineetha Nedungadi and K.B. Rajanand on Kathakali, intend to provide a broad introduction to the art enthusiasts enabling them to enrich their understanding and appreciation of Kathakali in general and Koodiyaattam stories in particular,” Sanal said.
“We believe that through Utsavam, we would be able to enhance the cultural profile of Kerala and India with these classical art forms among the cognoscenti of a very cosmopolitan UAE, thereby making them appreciate the longevity, richness and classicism of our arts and their relevance even in the modern era,” she added.
The programme schedule of the festival can be seen here.
