Tradition Indian art forms brought to life at Utsavam 2010 The three-day International Koodiyattam and Kathakali Festival is being organized by Thiranottam with the support of Consulate General of India in Dubai

Dubai, December 1, 2010: Thiranottam, a not for profit organization created to inculcate interest

and promote tradition Indian cultural arts in the UAE, announced that it will host Utsavam ’10 –

an International Koodiyattam and Kathakali Festival. The event will be held at the HRH Princess

Haya Bint al Hussein Theater at GEMS Wellington International School, Dubai from December

2 to December 4, 2010.

The three-day event, which will encompass various forms of classical Indian dance and theater

forms, is being held in association with the Consulate General of India. With its dedication

to celebrating classical art forms of Kerala, the event will be a treat for the aficionados of

Koodiyattam, Kathakali and other rich art forms of Kerala.

Entry to the Festival is free.

Over the last four years, ‘Thiranottom’ has been consistently pursuing its historical cultural

mission through numerous performances of Kathakali, Koodiyattam and other traditional South

Indian dance forms. The organization also conducts seminars and study classes with the

intention of making these arts popular among the general public here.

All performances at Utsavam ‘10 will present celebrated classical dance, song and music in

perfect harmony exploring powerful rhythms, expressions of culture and sacred mythological

history of Kerala. As in the previous years, eminent maestros in the field of Kathakali and

Koodiyattam will perform at the festival.

The event will witness performances of Koodiyaattam, a classical Sanskrit theatre native to

Kerala. This is the only surviving form of ancient Sanskrit theatre, known for its highly stylized

expressions. Koodiyaattam is considered to the epitome of Indian theater.. This rich and

elaborate art form has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and

Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a ‘Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of

Humanity’.

Utsavam will also celebrate Kathakali; a highly stylized classical dance-drama with

performances of Kathakali is an extremely elaborate dance form, which is enacted using

mudras and the elegant and awe-inspiring looks of its characters, body movement and nimble

footwork.

Demonstrating the gentle art of Kathakali will be Padmasree Kalamandalam Gopi performing

as Nalan and Rugmaangadan, Sadanam Krishnan Kutty as Hamsam and Hanuman, Margi

Vijayakumar as Seetha and Mohini, and Koodiyattam by Margi Madhu doing Ravanan, Pothiyil

Ranjith Chakyar presenting Dhananjayan and Sooraj Nambiar as Shanghuvarnnan.

‘Nangyar Kooth’ by Usha Nangar and ‘Thayampaka’ by Poroor Unnikrishnan are the other major

events of the 3 day festival.

Other noted performers at the festival are Kalanilayam Gopi, Kalamandalam Mukundan,

Kalamandalam Babu Namboothiri, Kalamandalam Vinod, Kalanilayam Rajiv, Kalamandalam

Unnikrishnan, Sadanam Ramakrishnan, Kalamandalam Rajanarayanan, Kalanilayam Manoj,

Kalamandalam Hariharan and Kalamandalam Rajiv.

For more information on the schedule of events, please contact 050-7760410 or

contact@thiranottom.org.

Website: www.thiranottam.org