PAYYANNUR KOLKALI AT SURATH

When Surath Muthappan Sevasamithi  requested PACT, Payyanur to perform Kolkali at Surath, we took the challenge. Maithri, Theru  headed by Santhosh Kumar agreed to help us. As we were totally unaware of the venue where the function is being held, we requested the Organisers to arrange an open space for the performance.

So we, a team comprising of 27, set of from by the Okha Express which reaches Payyanur at an odd hour of 2.45 am. The train reached Surat at the same time next day so that two days sleep got disturbed. At the Station the organizers warmly received us and took us to the Prakathi Hall, Adajen, the venue of the festival.

Sri. Praful, an officer at KRIBHCO who was from Payyanur and a close friend of all was waiting and he took us to KRIBHCO Guest House as the accommodation at the venue of the festival was rather crowded with theyyam artists and others. The other friends of the Kolkali team decided to stay at the festival venue itself.

Surath is the second largest city of Gujarath and the festival is being conducted by the Malayalees of Surath belonging to Kannur and Kasaragod Districts . The main programme is a performance of Muthappan and they have invited us to present kolkali as an additional attraction of the function for the current year. 

The performance of kolkali impressed everyone. They were spell bound by the perfection of Charadukuthi kali. We were astonished to see a long queue of devotes waiting patiently to get a darsan of Muthappan until late night. There was a splendid sadya by a team led by Ullas from padichal 

We found several friends there who had been settled in Surath for long. What attracted us most was their devotion and love for their home land and its culture.

 watch charadu kuthi kali at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7wDrNEtTYc

K U MOHANAN

                

  K U Mohanan, a gifted cinematographer from Payyanur gramam is again in the news for his exceptional camera work in  talaash. He has become the most sought after camera man in bollywood after many success stories. In 2012 alone there were two outstanding films to his credit -  ‘Miss Lovely’ which in fact shocked Cannes audience and ‘Celluloid man’, a documentary well received. 

Payyanur has produced many men of talents. Born to an orthodox family, Mohanan fought hard to scale up to the top. He has undertaken much pain to become what he is now. He is a born artist and was initiated to drama and cinema much earlier in life. His father, P G Poduval was a famous ‘kolkali’ singer. The cultural environment of Payyanur with theyyam, temple art forms and folk arts helped him a lot. His association with CH Surendran Nambiar and CH Mohanan acquainted him with world classics. He had a taste of good cinema at  Sarga Film society headed by P. T. Ramakrishnan and K. Ramachandran which opened up world cinema before him.

He completed his primary education from muchilot school and high school from Govt. High School , Payyanur. He graduated in English Literature from Payyanur College His talents matured here and he bagged many awards in University art festivals. He taught English at Cherussery College for some time. Here he, along with friends conducted many seminars and symposiums on world Literature.

          He started his amateur work as a photographer with a camera gifted to him by Mr. Salam, a college friend. He spent valuable money on films (which was very dear then) empty bellied which invited the wrath of his relatives.  He spent hours of sleepless nights at temples and ‘Kavus” to shoot theyyams and other folk art forms with friends. These photos were his pass word to Pune Film Institute. His diploma film shocked everyone.

After Film  Institute his initial attempts at documentary and ad films was appreciated alike. Even today some of the top ad visuals are by him.

                   He got a very good opening in feature films with Mani kaul in Noukar ki kameez which received many laurels. His camera work in lagan and Don opened up Bollywood to him. He also shot many films. In fact his credit list is very long including 'sayanam' in malayalam

                    His films include  We are Family, Aja Nachle, Don, John &Jane, Y Not ?, Samay : When time strikes, Freaky Chakra, Rooms of Shadow and Light, The Magnificent Ruin, Aadhi Haqeet, Aadha Fasana, Agnivarsha: The Fire  and the Rain, Majuben Truck Driver

He is settled in Mumbay with his journalist wife Beena and  daughter and son. His daughter Malavika Mohan had her debut cine appearance as heroine in pattam pole with Dulquer Salman

Also see 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQToJlJXH2A

pandolin.com/the-style-bender

www.fandango.com/kumohanan/filmography/p192215

http://www.reporteronlive.com/story/5409/Interview-With-Cinematographer-K-U-Mohanan.html

THEYYAMS OF GRAMAM

                

                Call it superstition, pagan belief or anything you like- but theyyam is so real that the life of gramers will be very monotonous without theyyam festivals. The womenfolk even today seek solace from theyyams  who will console them by uttering words of wisdom . Theyyam is a perfect art. The colours are perfect.The dress and the makeup along with the head gear is pure art. A theyyam illuminated in choottukatta ( Leaf torch) have a mesmerizing effect. You will feel that there is something supernatural in it. The artist will be a humble poor man you know but when he becomes a theyyam you will stand before him only with hands folded. Many of the mother goddesses theyyams are incarnations of kali who will terrorize you. 

          

ഉരുഗാ ധിപനോട് ഗരുഡ നെന്ന പ്രകാരത്തിങ്കല്‍ ചെല്ലുന്ന ദിക്കിനകതിങ്കല്‍ തല താഴാതീട്ടു തക്കവണ്ണം ശത്രുസംഹാരം നടത്തി കൈവല്യത്തെ  പൊഴിയിച്ചു തരാം കേട്ടോ പൈതങ്ങളെ             

            Theyyam cult should have been started as a ritual for getting rid of all types of mundane difficulties- Famine, diseases, distress and the like. Initially it might have been the komarams which performed these godly acts. But later on it attained a very ordered form with its face painting, drums, pipes and fire walking rituals attaining the status of a complete ritual.

            Theyyam festivals are to be lived through. Here you are not a silent spectator. You will feel that you have lived through a new experience. It recharges your soul. It strikes a deep consoling note in your psyche.

            In an around gramam there are many kavus. Ashtamachal Bhagavathi, Mambalam , Kurunhi , Mavichery and Kottnachery are some . Besides there are tharavadu theyyams.
             All theyyams have a story of origin. This story will be sung along with the performance as thottam pattu. It can be the story of a mother deported alone to an alien land in a boat, a warrier died in action or a lady victimized by the rulers. 

            Theyyam festival is a fertility festival. When deepavum thiriyum from Payyanur temple reaches the kavu, sky rockets penetrate the evening sky with deafening noise. Everyone knew the kaliattom is on. All get ready for the vellattum which is a prelude to the original theyyam. The vellatum will be accompanied by velichapads, umbrella men, and kalasam (a pot full of toddy decorated with areca nut leaves). The vellattum performs a series of somersaults among flowerpots and other fireworks. During night the stage is set for other cultural programs. On the early hours of the concluding day there will be a grant fireworks display. During day  all the theyyams set forth, dance and grace the devotees  until late night.

My memories of childhood are linked with a lot of theyyam experience. For children theyyam festival is an occasion for great fun and joy. There will be provision for merriment- balloons, toys and merry go round. For youngsters the festival is an occasion for bonding the adolescent relationships-for family men an occasion for meeting old friends and relatives- for the old folks a chance to be graced by their gods.

When we live through a kaliattum, another year pass by, and we all promise to meet again for the next kaliattum. Each theyyam festival gives enough food for thought until then.

Also see 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YlOtoYDpzY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxyNisIw7k8