Artists:
Lord Krishnan
: Kalakshethram Renjish
Draupadi
budiri
: Kalakshethram
Duryodhanan
: Guru Kottakkal Nandakumar
Dussasanan
: Kalanilayam Mohanan
Priya
Nam-
Kathakali
Roudrabheeman : Guru Kalamandala
Gopalakrishnan
Vocal
: Kalamandalam Gireesan
Nedumpilly Krishnamohan
Chenda
: Kalamandalam Vijayakrishnan
Maddalam
: Lalithakalalayam Nambisan
Chutti (facials)
: Kalamandalam Murali
Petty (Costumes) : Appu
Coordination
: Praveen
presented by
KALAKSHETHRAM, Dombivli
1800hrs, Tuesday 11, January 2011
Homi Bhabha Auditorium
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
DURYODHANAVADHAM
Scene I : Lord Krishna and Draupadi.
Duryodhanavadham is the most popular
play in Kathakali, which undoubtedly
has seen the maximum number of
stages. The reason for this is its compact way of presentation and its plentiful dramatic situations, the variety of
colorful characters and the melodious
songs.
Lord Krishna was about to start, but Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas, reminds him of
her vow that she will not tie her hair till it
is soaked in the blood of Dussasena, the
sadistic brother of Duryodhana, who disrobed her in the court. The omniscient
Krishna consoles her that even if he pleads
for peace, the greedy Duryodhana would
not yield and that a battle is imminent.
The story of Duryodhanavadham is extracted from the greatest epic of all
time, Mahabharatha. The Duryodhana
snatched all the wealth, the Kingdom
and the freedom from Pandavas by a
deceptive play of dice. They were exiled for 12 years, followed by a year in
hide. Ultimately the term of exile is
over and they are back to retrieve their
kingdom, but Duryodhana did not want
to part what he got. The peace-loving
Yudhishtira, eldest of Pandavas, wanted
to settle the dispute by a treaty talk.
Their family friend, Lord Krishna was
deputed to be the emissary
Scene II : Thiranokku (an introductory
presentation) of Duryodhana followed by
that of Dussasana.
Duryodhana and Dussasana in their court.
He orders the court not to respect Krishna,
an emissary of enemy. But Lord Krishna
enters the court of Kauravas, everybody
gets up and pays homage. In the ensuing
treaty talk, Kishna argues for the rightful
half part of the land for Pandavas, which is
turned down by Duryodhana. Krishna’s
plea for five provinces, five villages, five
houses or atleast one house for Pandavas
was ridiculed by Duryodhana, who refuses
to part even pin-head of land.The arguments turns dirty into the lineage chastity.
Duryodha and Dussasena try to tie down
Krishna, but with his charismatic powers
Lord escapes.
Scene III: Thiranokku of Roudrabheema.
Since Duryodhana refused to part the
rightful land of Pandavas, the battle takes
place and almost all leading heads rolled.
It is the last day of the imminent battle,.
Filled with uncontrollable fury and revenge, Bheema transforms into deadly,
ferocious character like a man-lion,
called Roudrabheema. He looks for Dusssana in the battlefield. On finding him
Bheema challenges Dussasena, for the
final fight. At first Dusssana is scared of
the ferocity of Roudrabheema, but stands
his ground. The fight takes place. In the
end Dussasana is defeated Bheema put
Dussasena in his lap and pierces his belly
and pulls out the guts. Bheema drinks the
blood of Dussasena. With the blood dripping guts of Dussasena, Bheema approaches Drpupadi and ties her hair with
his blood soaked hands.
Lord Krishna appears on the scene and
pacifies Bheema.