Nelliyode redefined the Kathakali characters he brought alive on stage

Kathakali maestro Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri was a consummate performer, academic and guru. He invested negative characters in Kathakali with a new intensity and depth

In the hierarchy of characters in Kathakali, negative characters or those with grey shades, chuvanna thaadi and karutha thaadi, (characters with red beard and black beard) are considered lower to Nayaka-Prathinayakas (heroes and anti-heroes). Actors specialising in such roles are not required to be perfectly disciplined either in angika (hand-gestures, body and limb movements) or in satwikaabhinayas (emotive acting). Octogenarian artiste Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri, who passed away recently, donned the roles of demonic-characters almost throughout his career much against his wish. Nevertheless, he re-conceptualised his roles with his theatrical astuteness and imaginative aptitude. The result was remarkable. Through his portrayals, characters such as Dussasana, Thrigartha, Malyavaan, Baka, Kirmeera, Kali, Baali, Sugreeva, Nakrathundi and Simhika acquired a rare density and sensitivity in relation to and independent of the text and the contexts.