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Chakyar
Chakyar ( ml, ചാക്യാർ; ; ; also spelled Cakyar, Chakkiar, Chakiar, etc.) is an intermediate priestly caste coming under the Ambalavasi community of Hindus in the Kerala state of India. The women in this caste are called ''Illotammas''. They occupy a position in the Hindu Temple in managing the affairs of the temple, though not the actual conduct of ceremonies. They are assigned with the holy temple ritualistic performance called Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam, which is the only surviving ancient Sanskrit theatre in India. Chakyar is the main actor who performs the ritualistic ''Koothus'' and ''Koodiyattams'' inside the temple or in ''Koothambalams''. Their women, ''Illotammas'', are not allowed to participate in these. The women roles are done by ladies of Nambiar community called ''Nangyarammas''. Nambiar plays the holy drum ''Mizhavu''. There were 18 Chakyar families throughout Kerala, but now their number is small. ''Mani'' family is one of them. The greate ...
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Mani Madhava Chakyar
Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar (IAST: ''Māṇi Mādhava Cākyār'') (15 February 1899 – 14 January 1990) was a celebrated master performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam (ancient Sanskrit drama theatre tradition) artist and authority of modern times. He was considered as the authority of '' Abhinaya'' (the classical Indian acting style) and ''Nātyaśāstra''. Known as "the Emperor of Rasa-Abhinaya", he had an exceptional ability to perform ''Rasa-Abhinaya''. His ''Netrābhinaya'' was world-famous and he had the ability to act only with eyes. He was well versed in all the traditional Koodiyattams and all the ''prabandhas'' used in Chakyar Koothu. He was able to explain the concepts, methods and practices of Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu in a clear and authentic way. He had an in depth study of ''Nātyaśāstra'' of Bharata Muni, as well as ways of acting which were popular in Kerala. His knowledg ...
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Koodiyattam
Koodiyattam ( ml, കൂടിയാട്ടം; IAST: kūṭiyāṭṭaṁ; ) is a traditional performing art form in the state of Kerala, India. It is a combination of ancient Sanskrit theatre with elements of ''Koothu'', an ancient performing art from the Sangam era. It is officially recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Origin Koodiyattam, meaning "combined acting" in Malayalam, combines Sanskrit theatre performance with elements of traditional koothu. It is traditionally performed in temple theatres known as ''koothambalams''. It is the only surviving art form that uses drama from ancient Sanskrit theatre. It has a documented history of a thousand years in Kerala, but its origins are not known. Koodiyattam and Chakyar koothu were among the dramatized dance worship services in the temples of ancient India, particularly Kerala. Both koodiyattam and Chakyar koothu originated from the ancient art form koothu, which is mention ...
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Mani Damodara Chakyar
Mani Damodara Chakyar (Māni Dāmodara Chākyār; born 1946) is a Kutiyattam and Chakyar Koothu artist in Kerala state of south India. He is a nephew and disciple of legendary guru ''Nātyāchārya Vidūshakaratnam Padma Shri'' Māni Mādhava Chākyār. He belongs to the great Mani Chakyar tradition of Koodiyattam and Chakyar koothu. He studied ''Chakyar Koothu'' and ''Koodiyattam'' in the traditional way for more than 30 years under the direct guidance of Māni Mādhava Chākyār. He has studied Sanskrit and Nātyasāstra in the traditional way. He holds a Master's degree in Sanskrit literature as well. He used to be high school Sanskrit teacher in Kozhikode. He was a member of legendary guru Padma Shri Māni Mādhava Chākyār's Koodiyattam troupe which performed Koodiyattam outside Kerala for the first time. In that performance of ''Thoranayudham Koodiyattam'' (1962, Madras), he played the role of Vibhishana with his guru Mani Madhava Chakyar (as Ravana). He is an exponen ...
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Chakyar Koothu
Chakyar Koothu (pronounced ) is a performance art from Kerala, India. It is primarily a type of highly refined monologue where the performer narrates episodes from Hindu epics (such as the ''Ramayana'' and the ''Mahabharata'') and stories from the Puranas. Sometimes, however, it is also a traditional equivalent of the modern stand-up comedy act, incorporating commentary on current socio-political events (and personal comments directed at the members of the audience). The performance "Koothu" means dance ... which is a misnomer, as facial expressions are emphasized and there is minimal choreography. It is performed in the Koothambalam; a place inside Hindu temples specifically designed for performing Kutiyattam and Chakyar Koothu. Ideally, the performance takes place in conjunction with festivals, presented by members of the Chakyar community along with the Ambalavasi Nambiars. It is a solo performance, by a narrator in a distinctive headgear and black moustache with his to ...
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Painkulam Raman Chakyar
Late Shri Guru Painkulam Raman Chakyar was a Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam performer. He won the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award in 1980. He was also a teacher of Vachika Abhinaya in both Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam. Life Starting in 1925, he performed regular programmes in various temples and religious places spread all over Kerala. He is credited with first bringing this artform outside the temples and closer to general audiences. He directed, supervised, and participated in more than 100 Koodiyattam plays, which he edited and condensed for contemporary audiences while striving to maintain artistic integrity and authenticity. He had more than 1000 stage appearances in different roles, besides being a regular participant in All India Radio programmes. He produced and staged the 2nd Act of Sakunthalam, 3rd Act of Nagananda and Jadayuvadhanam in Ascharyachoodamani. He also supervised and participated in the production of a colour documentary film on koodiyattam in 1974. T ...
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Ambalavasi
Ambalavasi, more properly Ampalavasi, ( ml, അമ്പലവാസി; IAST: Ampalavāsi; ) is the generic name for a group of castes among Hindus in Kerala, India, who have traditionally rendered temple services. Castes The Ambalavasis are broadly divided into two groups, being those who wear the sacred thread and those who do not. Sacred thread wearers Pushpaka Brahmins * Pushpaka (Pushpakan Unni) * Nambeesan * Theeyatt Unni * Kurukkal * Puppalli * Plappalli (Pilappalli) * Nambidi * Daivampadi or Brahmani Others * Chakyar, * Nambiar * Atikal (also written as Adikal) Threadless Ambalavasis *Pisharody * Marar * Varyar *Pothuval, The feminine names of threadless ''ambalavasi'' castes are formed by adding the suffix ''-syar'' to the masculine names as Pisharadi-Pisharasyar, Marar-Marasyar, Variar-Varasyar, Poduval-Poduvalsyar. Temple services Though all Ampalavāsis have to do service in temples, they have sufficiently distinct functions to perform. Pushpakans and Namb ...
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Mizhavu
A mizhav or mizhavu (Malayalam: മിഴാവ്) is a big copper drum played as an accompanying percussion instrument in the Koodiyattam and Koothu, performing arts of Kerala. It is played by the Ambalavasi Nambiar community. After 1965, when started a mizhavu repertory in kalamandalam mizhavu break the cast barrier and nowadays anyone can play mizhavu in koodiyattam, nangiar koothu, chakyar koothu, and mizhavu thayambaka. The drum is played only with hands. The Sanskrit name of nambiar "Pānivāda" ('pāni' means ''hands'' and 'vāda' comes from the verb 'vādanam' meaning ''playing'', altogether meaning the one who plays with hands) comes from this reason. Mizhavu is treated as a " Brahmachaarya" and it is considered as sacred. It is used to accompany the holy ritualistic temple performance of Koodiyattam and Koothu. Only Ambalavasi Nambiar community members are allowed to play it inside temples or Koothambalams still. See also * Māni Mādhava Chākyār * Nātyakalpadr ...
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Ammannur Madhava Chakyar
Ammannur Madhava Chakyar (13 May 1917 – 1 July 2008) was a master of Kutiyattam, the classical Sanskrit theatrical form indigenous to Kerala. He is best known for taking the performances from the temple sanctuaries where they were formerly confined and making them public events. Recognition * Padma Bhushan from Government of India–2003 *Padmasri In 1981 * Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (IPA: Saṅgīta Nāṭaka Akādamī Puraskāra), also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in Englis ... - 1979 * Kalidasa Samman *D-Lit degree from University of Kannur, Kerala *Golden Bangle From International centre of Kutiyattam, Thrippunithura *Unesco Recitation from Paris in 2001 *Kerala Sangeeth Natak Akademy Award *Kerala Kalamandalam Award * References Further reading * ''Into the world of Kutiyattam : with the legendary Ammannu ...
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Ammannur Rajaneesh Chakyar
Ammannur Rajaneesh Chakyar is well known Kutiyattam artist from Thrissur, Kerala, India. He was trained under his grand uncle Padmabhushan Dr. Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar. for Fifteen years at Ammannur Gurukulam with the Scholarship from Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi. After the systematic training under his Guru, he is capable to present different characters with subtle Satwika Abhinaya. He widely performing and teaching in India and Abroad. Notable roles * Ashwatthama in ''Urubhangam'' directed by G Venu of Natanakairali *Kali in Nala-Damayanthi *Ravana in Thoranayudham Kūțiyāțțam (Kailasodharanam and Parvathiviraham) *Parasurāma in Parasurāmavijayam directed by himself *Bali and Sugreeva in Balivadham Kūțiyāțțam *Ravana and Jatayu in Jatayuvadham Kūțiyāțțam *Shurpanakha with Ninam *Vidūshaka Roles in different Kūțiyāțțam Reception VR Prabodhachandran Nayar from The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspa ...
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Koothambalam
Koothambalam or Kuttampalam meaning temple theatre is a closed hall for staging ''Koothu'', ''Nangiar koothu'' and ''Koodiyattam'', the ancient ritualistic art forms of Kerala, India. Koothambalams are said to be constructed according to the guide lines given in the chapter 2 of Nātyasāstra of Bharata Muni. The stage within the hall is considered to be as sacred as the temple sanctum. It is constructed within the cloister of the Temple; more precisely within the ''pancaprakaras'' of the temple. The prescribe location is between the ''prakaras'' of ''bahyahara'' and ''maryada''. In Kerala tradition it is considered as one among the ''pancaprasadas'' of a temple complex. Its dimension vary from temple to temple. A square platform with a separate pyramidal roof supported by pillars in the center called ''natyamandapam'' is constructed as s separate structure within the large hall of Koothampalam. The floor of the hall is divided into two equal halves and one part is for performance ...
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Nambiar (Ambalavasi)
The Nambiar (also written as Nambyar) is a Hindu Ambalavasi caste of Kerala. Ambalavasi Nambiars wear sacred thread like Brahmins and is traditionally considered as a higher caste to Nairs including same name bearing Nair-Nambiar caste which usually leads to confusion. See also *Kunchan Nambiar *Mizhavu *Ottan Thullal *Chakyar koothu Chakyar Koothu (pronounced ) is a performance art from Kerala, India. It is primarily a type of highly refined monologue where the performer narrates episodes from Hindu epics (such as the ''Ramayana'' and the ''Mahabharata'') and stories from ... References * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nambiar (Ambalavasi Mizhavu) Social groups of India Indian castes Kerala society Malayali Brahmins Hindu communities ...
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Social Groups Of India
Social organisms, including human(s), live collectively in interacting populations. This interaction is considered social whether they are aware of it or not, and whether the exchange is voluntary or not. Etymology The word "social" derives from the Latin word ''socii'' ("allies"). It is particularly derived from the Italian ''Socii'' states, historical allies of the Roman Republic (although they rebelled against Rome in the Social War of 91–87 BC). Social theorists In the view of Karl MarxMorrison, Ken. ''Marx, Durkheim, Weber. Formations of modern social thought'', human beings are intrinsically, necessarily and by definition social beings who, beyond being "gregarious creatures", cannot survive and meet their needs other than through social co-operation and association. Their social characteristics are therefore to a large extent an objectively given fact, stamped on them from birth and affirmed by socialization processes; and, according to Marx, in producing and reproducin ...
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