KELIindia:Projects

chenda - traditional percussion instrument

In its quest to keep a solid link with the purest and the most authentic of our classical art traditions, Keli has in the past, successfully undertaken several unique festivals and some other exclusive projects.

Kathakali Festival of Kottayam Stories 1997
(9th to 12th Dec. 1997)
Venues: Y. B. Chavan Centre, Birla Kreeda Kendra, Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan and Karnatak Sangh Hall.

This four-day festival was devoted exclusively to the four Kathakali plays, popularly known as Kottayam Stories, by the distinguished poet-composer, Kottayath Thampuran. These stories, Bakavadham, Kalyanasougandhikam, Kirmeeravadham and Kalakeyavadham are well-known in the Kathakali parlance as the four flawless stories in the wide repertoire of the Kathakali tradition. These plays lend themselves to stage presentation involving every nuance of the tradition and are a real challenge to any Kathakali actor notwithstanding his stature or standing. The festival featured some of the most celebrated actors and musicians of our time. During the festival, Keli honored and felicitated the distinguished actor and teacher, Guru Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair (then 83 years old) with a Veerashrunghala (a traditional golden bracelet of appreciation). Shri Shashi Kapoor on behalf of all the art lovers of the city presented him this honour. The festival was dedicated towards the memory of Guru Pattikkamthodi Ramunni Menon. Seniormost artistes like Kalamandalam Appukutty Poduval, Kalamandalam Gopi, Sadanam Krishnankutty, etc. actively participated in the festival. The unique four-day festival was greatly appreciated by all art lovers of Mumbai. Such a festival featuring all the four stories is a rare event even in Kerala these days.
The festival was supported by ANZ Grindlays Bank and Lawkim Ltd.
>>Know more about KATHAKALI

Womens' Classical Theatre Festival 1998
(22nd to 24th Dec. 1998)
Venues: Y. B. Chavan Centre, Prithvi Theatre and
M. E. S Dombivli.

A three-day festival of ancient Indian womens' theatre was held in Decemeber 1998. This festival was dedicated towards the memory of late Paimkulam Ramachakiar. The festival featured Nangiar Koothu, an exclusively womens' theatre form almost 1200 years old and excerpts from Koodiyattam highlighting the potential and range of female actors in this tradition which is over 1800 years old, the only surviving form of Sanskrit theatre tradition. The festival featured some of the most talented and senior women artistes of Koodiyattam and Nangiar Koothu. Keli and Prithvi also felicitated 84 year old Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakiar, the doyen among Koodiyattam exponents, by presenting Pattu and Vala (Royal cloth and a traditional golden bangle of appreciation). Celebrated Hindustani vocalist Pt. Jesraj presented this honour to Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakiar. This associated festival of Keli and Prithvi was a unique experience for the city of Mumbai
>>Know more about KOODIYATTAM

Classical Music Festival 1999 on Swathi Thirunal Compositions
(16th to 18th February, 1999)
Venues: Y. B. Chavan Centre, Karnatak Sangh Hall and M. E. S Dombivli.

This three-day festival of classical Karnatic music devoted to the compositions of Swathi Thirunal Maharaja projected the variety richness and vitality of the royal composer's contributions to the classical Indian music. The festival featured outstanding classical musicians who are known for their renderings of Swathi Thirunal compositions like Sangeeta Kalanidhi T.K. Govinda Rao, Pala C.K. Ramachandran and Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma. The festival was inaugurated by the doyen among Karnatic musicians 92-year old Dr. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer who also sang a couple of Swathi Kritis at the inaugural function. Keli felicitated Dr. Srinivasa Iyer with a Veerashrunghala which was presented to him by Gana Saraswathi Kishori Amonkar, the celebrated Hindustani vocalist. The festival was supported by Lawkim Ltd.
>>Know more about KARNATIC MUSIC

Classical Rhythm Festival 1999 (Melotsavam)
(15th to 18th Dec. 1999)
Venues: Y. B. Chavan Centre, Rang Bhavan and Horniman Circle Garden.

This four-day festival was devoted exclusively to the traditional rhythm ensembles from Kerala and featured some of the most outstanding artistes of our time. The whole festival was dedicated towards the memory of late Venkichan Swami, the legendary percussion artiste. The festival included Melappadam, Pandimelam, Panchavadyam and Thayambaka on Mizhavu and Chenda. Five senior most percussion artistes who led each of the ensembles, Aliparambu Sivarama Poduval (Thayambaka - Chenda), Chakkamkulam Appu Marar (Melam), Kuzhur Narayana Marar (Thimila), P.K. Narayanan Nambiar (Mizhavu) and Appu Kutty Poduval (Maddalam) were honoured with a Veerashrunghala each which were presented to them by Pt. C.R. Vyas, Shashi Kapoor, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma and late Ustad Alla Rakha respectively. Promising artiste of the year award was presented to Kalamandalam Easwaran Unni and Peruvanam Kuttan Marar by Ustad Zakir Hussain. The festival of rhythm involving more than 200 artistes from Kerala literally took the city by storm. This combined effort of Keli and Prithvi was supported by the Maxtouch Cultural Heritage Series.
>>Know more about RHYTHM

Classical Dance Festival 2001 (Mohinyattam)
(26th to 28th January 2001)
Venue: Y. B. Chavan Centre.

Keli in association with Prithvi organized a four-day Mohiniyattam festival featuring some of the leading performers and teachers of this ancient Kerala tradition. The festival was dedicated towards the memory of late Guru Nattuvan Korattikara Krishna Panicker and his disciples Chinnammu Amma and Kalamandalam Kalyani Kutty Amma. The festival included Guru Pooja by Kerala Kalamandalam Group, Lasya Pooja by Bharati Shivaji and the group, Sarga Pooja by Kalamandalam Sreekala and Group and Sakthi Pooja by Dr. Kanak Rele and her Group. During the festival Keli and Prithvi felicitated Kalamandalam Sathyabhama and Dr. Kanak Rele with a Suvarna Kankanam each for their invaluable contribution to the preservation, development and propagation of Mohiniyattam. The festival also featured a two-day Seminar on different aspects of Mohiniyattam in which a number of senior exponents, scholars and critics took part.
>>Know more about MOHINIYATTAM

Classical Rhythm Festival 2001 (Thayambaka)
(4th to 6th December 2001)
Venues: Y.B.Chavan Centre,Horniman Circle Garden

Keli in association with Prithvi organised a three day Thayambaka festival featuring some of the leading performers of this ancient Kerala percussion tradition. The festival was dedicated towards the memory of late Gurus Malamakkavu Kesava Poduval and Kolantha swamy.The festival included three days of Thayambaka by Guru Pallavoor Appu Marar , Pookkattiri Divakara Poduval and Porur Unnikrishnan.During the festival Keli and Prithvi felitated Pallavoor Appu Marar with a Veerashunghala .Guru Thrikkamburam Krishnan Kutty Marar and Pookkattiri DivakaraPoduvalwere felitated with Keerthisankhu.The festival was strengthed by a two day seminar on rhythm in which topics like aesthetics of rhythm culture,vanishing traditions, (Kudukkaveena,Sopana music Pani) various traditions of Thayambaka etc were discussed. This combined effort of Keli and Prithvi was supported by Orange.

Classical Women's Theatre Festival 2003
( Nangiar Koothu)
(15 th to 16 th October, 2003)
Venues : Y B Chavan Centre, Nehru Memorial Hall, Pune

This two-day Classical Women's Theatre Festival focusing on Nangiar Koothu – (1200 years old Women's Sanskrit Theatre tradition still surviving in Kerala). was held in Mumbai and Pune on 15th October & 16th October, 2003 respectively. The festival was dedicated towards the memory of Late Kunjukutty Nangiar and Subhadra Nangiar. The famous Kootiyattam and Nangiar Koothu artiste Usha Nangiar was felicitated traditionally with a 'Keerthi Sanghu' (A traditional golden conch of appreciation) and Keli's Promising Artiste of the Year Award presented to Kapila on the inaugural day of the festival. A book ‘Abhinethri' - on Kootiyattam was released by Guru Chitra Visweswaran. Kapila perofmed Nangiar Koothu at Mumbai and Pune.

The effort was supported by Chemtrols, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum

Keli Classical Rhythm Festival 2005
(A festival featuring the vanishing traditions of Kerala's rhythm art)
(12th to 15th December, 2005)
Venues:YB Chavan Centre, Prithvi Theatre, Horniman
Circle Garden, Nalanda Dance Research Centre

The proposed four-day Rhythm Festival 2005 will focus on four aspects of the tradition of ensemble playing of instruments, which are on the verge of extinction. The festival will be followed by another two days of lecture- demonstrations, a three-day long film festival and a week-long exhibition of percussion instruments and traditional Mural illustrations.