‘My lifetime devotion to thidambu nritham was God’s plan’ – Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri

Ranjan Mohapatra

Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri is the finest exponent or master in Indian temple dance thidambu nritham. Puthumana is the sunshine on stages at this age also. The voyage was long more than sixty years. Thidambu nritham is a ritual dance performed by carrying the thidambu (replica of the deity of Gods and Godesses) on head. Puthumana is one and only blessed artist in whose performances the ritualistic signs of the presiding God or Godess appear, but unintentionally. Puthumana’s thidambu nritham had been heavenly unique, magical and unsurpassed. The humble artist says ‘I haven’t done anything. I apply whatever I’ve learned and do as disciplined, dedicated daily practice in the early hours of the morning. It’s only God’s grace and blessings of all gurus and elders’. Puthumana applies his full concentration on the performance with great zeal and enthusiastic attention whole the time. Puthumana evokes and invokes to the inner soul and offer prayers to keep in mind the permanent denotations, gestures and demeanor of the governing god and goddess, before entering on stage. Puthumana speaks about thidambu nritham. ‘At the commencement of the dance, I forget any kind of mental or physical uneasiness in me. My reverence is to god to enter into my heart and foot movements. I do not see or hear what others do at that time.’. Puthumana showcase his intellect and prowess as manodharmma in a very sensible style. His awareness in the natyashastra  and basics is huge. He thinks that his consecration to thidambu nritham was decided earlier by God. He surrenders to god like a solemn vow, which he thinks comes out as his contributions. Puthumana says his inner feeling is that there is a consistent harmony and congruity between his heart and gods he present on his head, and less with the human beings. Art can be used as a weapon for continued existence, but once an artist start copying actions from somewhere else, no longer the art will remain unique. Thidambu nritham is a part of Indian culture, parentage and heritage. He says ‘I believe that if we do lose its value in the presentations, it will not continue as thidambu nritham, and become some other dance; whether in temple or exterior. And, when the value of any temple dance is frittered away, it may cause dislike to the audience.’ Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri is abiding his ceaseless connections and eternal love with the temple gods.