It must be when I was around 6 or 7 years, about 4 years after my first Kathakali experience (where I fell ill with fever for two-three days), about which I wrote earlier. I became an ardent Kathakali enthusiast and started going to most of the performances nearabout our village.
I used to go to Pachayil temple and used to stay there for all the five days. In Olappamanna Mana in Vellinezhi there were times when there would be two stages being performed at the same time, one in front of the Pathayappura and one in the front yard.
Vazhenkada utsavam (festival) was another favorite where I used to go with my uncles all the five days. After dinner, we would walk a few kilometers - from Adakkaputhur , through Vellinezhi and then cross the Thootha river somewhere and walk a few kilometers more. By the time we reach the temple, it was time to start the Purappad and then you would forget everything else and would be lifted to an entirely different world: world of Gods and Goddesses: world of all basic virtues and vices of Devas and Asuras. The characters in the stories I heard from my Grandma were coming alive in these performances. and I loved them.
When I saw a Kathakali performance, first time after I started going to watch it with my uncles, I could not believe that they were all humans and through elaborate make up they were made to look like Bheema, Keechaka, Dussasana, Panchali etc. Then when we went to the make-up area and saw how it was done, I was pretty much impressed. And then, my ambition was to become a Kathakali artist.
Yet, I thought it should be a passing phase, as at many different occassions I had many different ambitions. Reading a good book, I wanted become a writer; travelling by a bus, I wanted to become a bus conductor; listening to a famous musician, I wanted to be a singer, and so on....
Coming back to Vazhenkada, the Kathakali performances started around 10 in the night and would continue till dawn. But I was always disappointed because we had to start back before the show came to an end.
Usually, in a Kathakali performance, excerpts from three or four stories were enacted. The first and probably the second would be for connoisseurs, the third and fourth one would be for masses. The last story would be where there would be lot of action and where the demons or villains would meet their end and the ultimate triumph of good over evil would happen. These were so exciting but we were never able to see these, as my uncles would insist on returning and I could only sulk in silence.
Finally it was 1956 or 57, I got a chance to learn Kathakali as I was studying in Vellinezhi school. In two to three years, Nanu Nair aasan taught me but I was never ready for a first performance, though I did go through the cholliyattam lessons (Sita's Padam Hantha hantha Hanumane...) if I remember right. Making mistakes was very common and Aasan would scold us plenty. He used to call me Thirumeni and I learned to recognise the many different tones with which he addressed me and what each of those tones meant.
Though I never reached a stage where I could perform, I acquired some knowledge to watch Kathakali and understand it to some extent.
I would meet Nanu Nair Aasan usually whenever I went to see the performances anywhere. One such meeting in Bombay was interesting. I am not sure of the year - some time in late sixties, I think - there was a Kathakali in Chembur. I was working in Bombay at that time. When I first got to the venue, I saw a board announcing the stories and the artists. What stood out was 'Duryodhana Vadham - Raudra Bheeman, Vellinezhi Nanu Nair and Dushasanan, Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair'. I was sure that the organisers had made a mistake. As usual I went to the greenroom to greet Aasan. He was surprised to see me there. He called me 'Thirumeni! what a surprise!' (this tone of address was of course a mix of surprise and affection)
I said, 'I am more surprised at the board outside! Surely, they have made a mistake?'
'No, Thirumeni! They are right! Today, we have reversed the roles. But you watch, it is going to be great!
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