Sammilan

Sammilan 09  By Ranjan Kamath

Sammilan '09 celebrated with the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Kalari Academy of Performing Arts(KAPA). 

The primary objective of each Sammilan edition is to bring the ancient martial art of Kalaripayattu from the margins of the exotic and rehabilitate it within it the mainstream.

Sammilan ’09 was one more effort to entertain, educate and excite audiences by the potential of Kalaripayattu as a movement grammar and psycho-physiological training regimen that grooms mind and body for optimal use from the classroom to the board room and beyond.

The audience witnessed Kalaripayattu performed with grace, flexibility and ferocity for which the martial art form is well renowned. They were also treated to a variety of movement art performances inspired by the grammar of Kalaripayattu.

The young students of Kalari Academy aged between eight and ten commenced the evening’s programme with the Kalari Vanakkam or salutation, illustrating the process by which a practitioner attains oneness with the self, pushing the body beyond tolerance levels through sheer power of mind over body.

Maja Drobac from Croatia, transcended cultural boundaries through dance in her performance titled Vipasana. While her performance had no connection with Kalaripayattu, Maya’s performance depicted how cultures are united in the commonality of movement even though the inspiration may be diverse.

Veena Basavarajaiah, dancer and choreographer converged west and east in Musical Combat which was a study in contrast. The disciples of the PKB Kalari Sangam transformed the deadly ottakol from a weapon of war into an instrument of lyricism seduced by the accompaniment of western classical music

Thereafter, Srishti, a creation by Miss Roopa Ravindran, renewed our vows to Mother Earth, acknowledging the supremacy of her creations; the majestic animals whose grace, speed, power and beauty inspired the martial art form of Kalaripayattu

Veena Basavarajaiah’s "MAYA" attempted to portray the illusion of perception. Through MAYA Veena was able to adequately illustrate, how the ancient movement grammar of a martial art can be adapted to the abstract world of contemporary dance.

The much awaited grand finale was provided by an explosive exhibition of traditional Kalaripayattu which literally had sparks flying. To the rhythmic accompaniment of drums led by Agni Group, the celebrated practitioners of the kalaripayattu exhibited the unity of weaponry and the human body through dangerous duels brilliantly executed with grace and ferocity.

With every Sammilan, the Kalari Academy seeks to expand the versatility of Kalaripayattu in the hands of creative practitioners of the performing arts, to explore and portray the infinite ways in which the traditional can remains perpetually relevant in the inspiration of the contemporary.

About The Writer

Ranjan Kamath, writer, teacher and theatre practitioner, “Kalaripayattu is an essential way of life which is integral to the enhancement of mental and physical performance skills”

natakvalas@gmail.com

www.natakvalas.com