Documentary takes a journey through Kathakali artiste’s craft

Krishnayanam by filmmaker Binuraj Kalapeetom to be screened in city today

For over three-and-a-half years, documentary filmmaker Binuraj Kalapeetom followed Kathakali artiste Sadanam Krishnankutty to all his performances. Most of the time, he shot the artiste without his knowledge. “I did not want him to perform for the camera or be aware of it,” says Binuraj.

His documentary film, Krishnayanam, on the veteran artiste will be screened on Wednesday at the TDM Hall at 5.30 pm.

Krishnankutty is known for the effortless ease with which he transforms into characters, having played pacha (noble), kathi (characters with negative shades) kari (evil), thaadi (demonic characters) and minukku (brahmins, saints and women) veshams (roles) with equal panache. “His beloved role is that of Krishna, which he excels in, but he has no trouble becoming Keechakan,” says Binuraj. The 40-minute documentary is a journey through seven different roles he has portrayed. It is a tribute to the artiste and his contribution to the art form, says Binuraj.