Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri - Emperor of Indian Temple Dance

 Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri - Emperor of Indian Temple Dance

Thidambu nritham is a seven century old Indian Temple dance now being very popular in the state of Kerala. Other dance forms popular in Kerala include Kathakali, Ottanthullal and Chakyar koothu. While Kathakali was earlier a temple dance, later it was taken to stage performance. Thidambu nritham has become popular through the dedication and efforts of legendary artist Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri. In thidambu nritham, there are mainly four rhythms thakilati, atantha, chempata and panchari followed by ekataala. There are few similarities between performance in Kathakali and Thidambu nritham, but differences are many. Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri maintains the old traditions and steps of Thidambu nritham in his performance blended with new steps invented by him appearing under the trend of the recent times. There is no scope for acting, expressions and other representations during thidambu nritham performance. Nevertheless, Govindan Namboothiri has successfully translated essence of old Indian theology, cosmology and mythology through manifestations in thidambu nritham including works centering on siva purana,  kaliya marddana and  presentations on selected texts in akroora bhakti. In his  thidambu nritham performances, the dance progresses from slow movements and steps like in kerala dance mohiniyattam ascending to quick foot movements at higher rhythms. Dance scholars exclusively mentions that in Govindan Namboothiri’s performances, change from one rhythm to other and change is steps in the ascending order from slow movements to quick movements is highly classic and extremely impressive. They endorse that Govindan Namboothiri is an emperor of Indian dance, like many exponents in Kathakali representing the rich cultural traditions of southern part of the country.

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Legendary Indian Dance Exponent ‘Kala Shri’ Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri

 

Legendary Indian Dance Exponent ‘Kala Shri’ Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri

Thidambu nritham is an Indian temple dance originated in northern part of Kerala, a state in India, like the traditional dance form Kathakali . Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri is an exponent of thidambu nritham who has popularized this dance form to various parts of India. He has redefined, rejuvenated and innovated on thidambu nritham. Govindan Namboothiri has worked on the basics of this dance form, extracted  its ‘artistic contents’ by separating it out from ritualistic nature and modified it in such a way that the dance could be presentable on open stage in front of millions. He enjoys and appreciates Kathakali, a classical Kerala dance form. He has dedicated his life to thidambu nritham for more than fifty years. The hard work of Govindan Namboothiri  is far and wide acknowledged and cherished all over the world. It was an amusing astonish for the audience of Kerala to see Govindan Namboothiri performing thidambu nritham in open air by taking it out from the boundaries of the temple premises. It had created revolution like the way Kathakali exponents had contributed earlier in the 19^th century in various parts of Kerala. For more than six decades of dedication to the field, Govindan Namboothiri has received numerous awards from the state of Kerala and outside as well. Considering his contributions to the field of art, Government of Kerala has awarded him with the highest honour, the prestigious Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Kala Shree title and KSNA award in the year 2014. He had received the award in 2015 from Devaswom minister V S Sivakumar in 2015. It was a new beginning and establishment of a history because Govindan Namboothiri was the only thidambu nritham artist to receive Kala Shree title, while several Kathakali and other leading exponents in his close association junior to him had received it much earlier.  Recently, Govindan Namboothiri has received the first Kerala State Kshethra Kala Academy award for the year 2017. He has received the title Kshethra Kala Shree  and state award in 2018 and has again established his distinction in the field of dance. He has accepted the title from Devaswom minister Kadakampalli Surendran and the whole country salutes ‘Guru ji’ Govindan Namboothiri, the honour which artists from other dance areas including Kathakali precisely appraise him.

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Effulgence of Progressive Dance Waves

 Effulgence of Progressive Dance Waves

about Indian temple dance – ‘thidambu nritham’ exponent

Kalashree. Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri

A C Babu

Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri, thidambu nritham exponent, one of the living legends in Indian Temple dance has recently received prestigious first Kerala State Award by Temple Art Academy of the Govt of Kerala. Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri is not pretending to be a living legend. As usual, every day from 4 am, he starts his regular practice sadhakam in four rhythms – thakilati, atantha, champata and panchari like a Kathakali artist. Yes, for Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri temple dance is life. I have known him since his debut dance performance at Adhiyamboor Subrahmanya Swami Temple in Kanhangad from which he started exhilarating incredible heights in the minds of dance viewers including Kathakali exponents. It had been more than fifty years, and his dance performances have created a new history in the country. The legend of dance, the pioneer has been in the limelight. Cruising ahead in the leaping charm of a prince, the thidambu nritham legend has been invited to perform in numerous dance festivals in India. He started when he was just five. He swimmed across the vast ocean of dance thidambu nritham learning and teaching, innovating and creating. He had chosen his life devoted to dance, a fighter, as evident from his strong decision, when he was just 13! Since then, it was an evolution of a new language in dance thidambu nritham, originator being Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri. This language was unconditionally acknowledged by the amateur. This approach had erased all the harsh and disturbing scripts rewriting with a heart-to-heart communication of love through dance without any barriers like in Kathakali. Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri’s experiments were questioned by the critics and traditionalists in dances including Kathakali, nonetheless they endorsed that performance was on the top. Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri has won numerous formal accolades the only one thus far to receive these awards- such as Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy ‘Kalashree’ Award, Kerala Tourism Award, etc. His notable thidambu nritham performances have generated most life-affirming moments in dance. Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri has created a story for himself in every juncture. His intuition had been to uncover the concealed secrets of truth through the medium of dance.  His creations referred by the scholars outside the country have led to an enriching cross-fertilization of the most stunning class. He had elated crowds in all his concerts and many are keenly in anticipation of!

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Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri, renowned Indian thidambu nritham exponent was honored by Kanhangad Shuttle Badminton club at Padnekkad, Kanhangad on 27th of July 2018 (Photographs courtesy: Mr. Madhu Poduval, Kanhangad)

 

  

 

Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri, renowned Indian thidambu nritham exponent was honored by Kanhangad Shuttle Badminton club at Padnekkad, Kanhangad on 27th of July 2018 (Photographs courtesy: Mr. Madhu Poduval, Kanhangad)

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Chemmattamvayal Snehatheeram Vayojana Kendra, Kanhangad in Kerala State, India Honor to Indian Dance Legend Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri 20th of May 2018

 

Chemmattamvayal Snehatheeram Vayojana Kendra, Kanhangad in Kerala State, India

Honor to Indian Dance Legend

Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri

20^th of May 2018

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Kalasri. Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri - at the zenith of Indian Temple Dance

 

Kalasri. Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri - at the zenith of Indian Temple Dance

Navaneeth Maniyoor

Renowned exponent of Indian dance Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri is in a sacred space of my mind from childhood. The dance legend had the distinctive opportunity to succeed hearts of thousands by unbelievable thidambu nritham performances in the temple premises even at age of eighteen. We had not given much importance to thidambu nritham performance at temples, but the outlook had radically changed after Puthumana emerged. I do not think there are any temples in Malabar which has not witnessed the glorious and mystical dance of Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri. Similar to Kathakali art is tantamount to the state of Kerala, Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri is dissolved in the depths of pure temple dance. Puthumana is awarded with two celebrated state awards recently – Kalasri title by Sangeet Natak Academy and Kshetra Kala Sri by Kerala Temple Arts Academy.

Puthumana started practicing thidambu nritham at the age of 5, but classical instruction was provided at the age of 17. He was so zealous to gain knowledge of the art due to which he could establish his first show within a few months. The feedback on the first one itself was hopeful to all. Apart from footsteps harmonized with the pulsation of rhythm, the ‘bhavachaarutha’ and ‘manodharma’ apparent by the crowd was indescribable. The kind of different conduct in thidambu nritham dance was the only one eternally in history. Puthumana was at the pinnacle at all times and is ongoing the sensation chronicle.

Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri devoted every second of his life to art thidambu nritham. In contrast to ‘mudras’ and ‘cholliyattam’ in Kathakali, engagements of the foot reveal the contribution in thidambu nritham. Puthumana has worked, reworked and invigorated thidambu nritham. Knowing the inadequacy of the dance that there is no scope for expressions, Puthumana has researched on this theme. Inside a period of quite a few decades he has formed the ‘big change’ – through conceptual translation of the summary of ‘sivapurana’, ‘kaliyamardana’ and ‘akroorabhakti’ – realized in the language of dance. Puthumana creates an implausible ‘laya’ during the changeover of steps from each of four basic rhythms – thakilati, adantha, chempata and panchari; like abstracts of four Vedas – four forms of manifestations in dance. As experienced by many, a viewer is competent enough to envisage the golden stroke of god during his performances. In the ‘Keraleeya’ dance Kathakali, there are many masters we admire. Puthumana ris also a supporter of Kathakali dance, but for him, thidambu nritham is his life. A big salutation to the ultimate temple dance genius!

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Thidambu Nritham – a spiritual journey - Anil

 

I remember an interview in all india radio 18 yrs back – guest of honor the legendary icon, thidambu nritham dance exponent and the ‘celestial thaandava’ dancer Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri; titled ormayile yavanika. He had given enlightenment to the listeners and replies for all the questions of the interviewer. Thousands of his admirers were not aware of his hardships and trainings. His debut performance was in Kanhangad, his native place and the event was roughly 50 yrs before; still, he is at the top. In those days, thidambu nritham was observed as a ritual in temples. Govindan Namboothiri has invigorated the dance – brought in noteworthy innovations, without rousing the originality and ritualistic traditions. ‘My ambition and passion since the age of 5 has been thidambu nritham and it continues..’ what else other than a life committed to thidambu nritham dance.. He explains the rudimentary methods and painful experiences he had during his initial days of training. ‘chavittithadal and training in the four fundamental rhythms are the basics’. Even now, he wakes up at 3 early in the morning and trains himself and disciples thidambu nritham till sunrise. Thidambu nritham is celebrated in a temple during annual temple festival. ‘In a temple, though the seva samiti invites me for the performance, it is the chief priest who gives final permission to me, because it is a divine art.’ In his words - ‘Thulasi, Chethi, Jamanthi and Mulla are main flowers used to decorate thidambu’. The color of the flower to be highlighted in the  garland depends on the main deity. ‘The dance begins with chenda melam followed by an important ritual ‘kotti urayikkal’ beginning at  north side if main diety faced eastwards, and if faced westwards, the ritual begins at the south side’. There are customary rhythms based on which thidambu nritham is structured – thakiladi, adantha, champada and panchaari further to conclude with ekathaalam. Govindan namboothiri had sacrificed each instant of his life for the development of art thidambu nritham. Several cultural organizations and temples honored the exceptional artist over the years, and the spiritual journey of the thidambu nritham legend continues. Unsurpassable divine dancer!

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