Baiju SankarPuthumana Govindan Namboothiri is the artist of temple art thidambu nritham related to temples in Kasarkode, Kannur and Calicut districts. Puthumana is the singular synonym for the master of temple dance, learned temple dancer, unique temple dancer and refined temple performer in India. Puthumana started the journey with thidambu nritham at age of 5, with an association with temples. He has seen many popular Kathakali and Koothu dancers...
Thursday, April 22, 2021
The International Icon of Indian Temple Dance
Baiju SankarPuthumana Govindan Namboothiri is an Indian Temple dancer and artist from Kerala. He is the incomparable stalwart of temple arts who devoted and sacrificed all moments of his life for revival of declining temple art thidambu nritham. Puthumana believes in traditionalistic approach in thidambu nritham added with numerous inventions of rhythms and steps. Puthumana is the sole artist alive who is proficient, competent and accomplished to...
Temple artist Pudhumana Govindan Namboodiri
Pudhumana Govindan Namboothiri is an Indian artist who created a significant mark of his own on temple dance. He is the dominant persona and discoverer of present-time thidambu nritham dance. The long-time leadership and supremacy in the temple dance were manifested by the great by way of boundless ingenuity, inventiveness, individuality, and taking care of originality. Pudhumana Govindan Namboothiri is well-liked by the world for his original and...
Monday, August 31, 2020
Mohiniyattam
There is no precise historical evidence to establish the antiquity of Mohiniyaattam, the classical female dance-tradition of Kerala. Probably it was evolved in the eighteenth century. In the court of king Swathi Thirunal who ruled Travancore (South Kerala) in the 19th century Mohiniyaattam flourished along with Bharatanatyam, the classical dance of Tamil Nadu. The post -Swathy period witnessed the downfall of Mohiniyaattam. ‘The dance of the enchantress’...
Thullal
Thullal is the successor of Kathakali. Kunchan Nambiar who lived two centuries ago, wrote the text of Thullal and choreographed it for the stage. All the forty or more Plays of Thullal composed by Kunchan Nambiar are replete with humor, sarcasm and social-criticism, Thullal has three divisions- Seethankan, Ottan and Parayan. The distinction between them lies mostly in the make-up and costumes and to some extent in the metres and the rhythm applied....
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
‘My lifetime devotion to thidambu nritham was God’s plan’ – Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri
Ranjan MohapatraPuthumana 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...
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
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...
