Kathakali: A Practitioner's Perspective

"Sadanam P. V. Balakrishnan is one of those amazing children of India who has risen from a humble beginning to sit upon the very throne of his chosen field. He is supremely gifted; is bold and firm. Balakrishnan has not taken anything for granted. He worked at his faults, as all good artists should. He was an exemplary student. He cared for his gurus deeply and absorbed, not merely their art, but crucially their philosophy, as well. In his quiet way, Balakrishnan has done what few could. He has succeeded in making Kathakali an acceptable art form in the national and international level.

But what is exciting is his mastery over both performance and teaching methodology. He is a consummate artist who enquires constantly. He understands his form - the past that was and the present and also throws his mind to the future. He experiments boldly in his style, whatever he does, he does with extreme care and after due contemplation. Balakrishnan's own prowess over this extremely difficult art of abhinaya allows him to bare to the reader the process of physical, mental and emotional preparation that are required to play-act a great theme. He even speaks with authority on the aspect of music for the dance. Such a person is supremely well placed to write about this difficult dance art. He has done so and this is a welcome gift to the world of dance. What he writes about is what he loves most. And that is the dance form - Kathakali. All its moves and all its graces - with deep knowledge and with abiding love."

Ms. Leela Samson
Director, Kalakshetra, Chennai

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