Soon enough, the performers skillfully shifted the spotlight onto the puppets, dressed in bold Kathakali costumes, their theatrical movements in perfect rhythm with the dramatic background music. When the five performers, dressed in simple white attire with gold trim, took to the stage, their voices and movements and the somewhat overpowering accompaniment of Carnatic vocals and instruments such as the chenda (drum), chengila (gong), illetalam (cymbals) and shankh (conch) dominated the space. The puppetry group is famous for reviving a fading traditional puppetry art form. (Left) Natana Kairali puppeteers ready to perform This was a 30-minute long pavakathakali (glove puppet) rendition of “ Kalyana Sougandhikam” (The Flower of Good Fortune)-an excerpt from the Mahabharata-by the Natana Kairali puppetry company of Kerala on Novemat the opening of “Indian Puppets: The Great Stories and Dancing Dolls,” an exhibit showcasing a representation of Indian puppetry at Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts. (Left) Displayed at the entrance of the theater are the character puppets used in the performance: Bheema in red, Hanuman in white, and Draupadiīetween two guardians of the garden. Bheema battles the guardians of the garden and brings the flowers to his dear Panchali. Hanuman then tells him of the secret place where the flowers grow. The reveal, however, shocks him to a state of unconsciousness. Bheema pleads to see his true cosmic form. Hanuman reveals himself, and the brothers are overjoyed to meet. No matter how much he tries, Bheema is unable to move him, and soon he realizes that this is no ordinary monkey. He disguises himself as an old monkey who is unable to move out of the way. Upset at the brashness shown by his brother, Hanuman decides to teach him a lesson in humility. As he nears the garden, he encounters Hanuman, who is meditating. Bheema starts his mission with characteristic aggression, destroying everything he encounters in his quest. Bheema, the most daring, gallant, and also bombastic of the Pandavas promises to get them for her from the fiercely guarded, secret garden of Kubera, the God of Wealth. (Photo: Chris Evert)Ī simple story, elaborately told: Panchali, the Pandava queen, desires a mysterious, alluring flower that the wind has flown in. (Left) Gopal Venu, the founder of Natana Kairali and the man behind the revival of Pavakathakali shares his story as his troupe members set the stage for the performance.
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