A documentary and a docu-fiction focus on aspects of Kathakali

Directed by Shruthi Sharanyam and Vinu Vasudevan respectively, the two short films trace the journey of a Kathakali artiste and that of a discerning spectator

Each Kathakali play transports viewers to an enchanted land of larger-than-life heroes and heroines, beasts and saints. Two documentaries released on YouTube recently attempt to understand what has helped this form of theatre cast a spell on modern-day practitioners and viewers.

Directed by Kathakali aficiando Vinu Vasudevan, the 10-minute short film goes behind the scene to find out what attracts a child to Kerala’s theatre art form, which includes vocal music, percussion, dance and acts.

One of the members of Malappuram-based People Story Collective, of which Vinu is also a member, had approached Vinu during Onam last year to do a documentary on different kinds of story-telling.

Says Vinu: “I had written ‘Paccha Mokaru’ (Green Face), a short story, many years ago. It was the green facial make-up of Kathakali heroes that enthralled me as a child. I used that as the script to make the film.”

Vinu explains that in many ways, the story is autobiographical. Kathakali performances were held regularly at his spacious house in Malappuram district. “Initially, what fascinated me was the colourful costumes and makeup of the artistes.”

That attraction evolved into a deep interest in Kathakali. At the age of 10, Vinu began learning Kathakali and performed for a few years before becoming a discerning viewer and organiser of Kathakali.

It is that early journey from curious child to performer that the 10-minute short narrates in Petti Paranja Katha. The title refers to the voluminous box, called an atta petti, in which Kathakali performers used to keep their costumes. Sketches in black and white enhance the narrative that tells viewers how performers used to carry the boxes on their heads or in bullock carts when they had to travel for recitals.