Poomathinutha | Kathakali Padam | Kalashri Sadanam Rajagopalan | Music & Myth

Описание: Music & Myth is a platform created to bring forth the different styles of music in India which are being practiced since ages. The poetries rendered through these styles tells us a story or a myth that not only imparts moral values and beliefs but also deepens the understanding of a local culture.
The opening season of Music & Myth showcases Kathakali Padams from God's own country, Kerala.

PART 1
There is an instance in Mahabharata, where Yudhishtira, who had lost everything to Duryodhana in the game of dice, is being encouraged by sage Brihadasva, with the story of Nala and Damayanti. The adventures of Nala showed how that king, who was unfortunate with the dice just like Yudhishthira and suffered greater toil and misery, won over all the challenges and recovered his kingdom and his wife.

Todays musical piece covers that part of the story where Damayanti, having failed repeatedly to find her lost husband, plans a fake 'swayamvara'. She believed, hearing about her second marriage, Nala will definitely appear. The invitation for Swayamvara was smartly spread across all the kingdom. In response to that, King Rituparna of Ayodhya arrives with his cook and a master charioteer Bahuka who had a dark blueish skin as he was bitten by Karkottaka, a snake. Having heard about Bahuka’s culinary skills and the way he drove the chariot, Damayanti doubted if he was Nala in disguise. So she sends her sakhi Keshini to spy on him. She comes back and reports to Damayanti her experience of meeting and interacting with BAHUKA, introducing him as a “Purusha Ratnam” or in other words, “Gem of a person”..
POOMATHINUTHA is a poetic expression of this reporting by Keshini, written by Shri Unnayi Warrier in his work NALACHARITHAM which is around 200 years old! NALACHARITHAM is one of the most popular story used for Kathakali, the classical dance form from Kerala. The poetry is written in Malayalam.


Vocals : Kalashri Sadanam Rajagopalan
Veena : Murali Krishnan Trichur
Percussions : Sunil Kumar
Story : Nalacharitam
Poet : Shri Unnayi Variyar

Live Recording/Mixing/Mastering by Rahul Ram Chandran

Music Video-
Direction : Sarath Kottikkal
Camera : Shukku Puliparambil, Vishnu, Yonus
Coordination: Pranav
Editor : Gopidas
Location : Varikasheri Mana, Ottappalam, Kerala

Logo and Artwork by Sarath Kottikkal

Narration shot and edited by http://www.TheSoundsWithin.com
Location : Dyu Art Cafe, Bangalore

Conceptualized and presented by Shreekumar Vakkiyil

Thank you, Shri Rajesh Pillai for your financial contribution.

Special thanks to-
Kalashri Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan, Rajesh Balakrishnan, Sreerag Saji and Prashant Pillai for being there whenever I was in need.

My pillars : My mentor & my family.

With deep gratitude, I dedicate this season to my father, my Guru and my inspiration, Kalashri Sadanam Rajagopalan.