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!