''Nātyakalpadrumam'' (നാട്യകല്പദ്രുമം in
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...
, नाट्यकल्पद्रुमम् in
Devanagari
Devanagari ( ; in script: , , ) is an Indic script used in the Indian subcontinent. It is a left-to-right abugida (a type of segmental Writing systems#Segmental systems: alphabets, writing system), based on the ancient ''Brāhmī script, Brā ...
) is a book written by Guru
Māni Mādhava Chākyār, considered the greatest exponent of
Koodiyattam and
Abhinaya in Kerala, about all aspects of ancient
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
drama theatre tradition of
Kerala
Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
—
Kutiyattam
Koodiyattam (; 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 ...
. It was first published in
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...
(1975) by
Kerala Kalamandalam, with financial assistance of
Sangeet Natak Academi,
New Delhi
New Delhi (; ) is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the Government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Parliament ...
. This work serves as a reference to both scholars and students. The entire book is written in the old
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
text style closely following
Nātyaśāstra. The structure and content of the book alike illustrate the knowledge of the author in both Sanskrit and Nātyaśāstra. The work received the
Kerala Sahitya Academy Award in the year 1976. A
Hindi
Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
translation has been published by the
Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi.
Contents
''Natyakalpadruma''- theatrical study written by Mani Madhava Chakiar the great Guru of Koodiyattam the traditional Sanskrit theatre, is divided into eight chapters. The cover photo shows the famous ''Pakarnnaatta-Abhinaya'' (male character enacting female character) of the maestro in Koodiyattam. Preface of the book is written by renowned scholar Shri Kunjunni Raja. The book contains
Navarasa photos of the maestro along with many of his rare Koodiyattam photos.
Introduction
The author begins his work with an introduction and a few benedictory and introductory versus written in Sanskrit language. Here he salutes Gods, Goddesses and his great Gurus like ''Panditaratnam'' Pannisseri Sankaran Nampoothiripad and ''
His Highness
Highness (abbreviation HH, oral address Your Highness) is a formal style (manner of address), style used to address (in grammatical person, second person) or refer to (in grammatical person, third person) certain members of a reigning or formerly ...
Darsanakalanidhi'' Rama Varma Parikshith Thampuran. Then he summarises the beginning of ''
Nātya'' and ''Nātyaveda'' as told by the great sage
Bharata in his monumental work
Nātyaśāstra and salutes the sage. Then in one stanza the author narrates his horoscope (Jataka) which depicts his scholarship in
Jyotisha. Then again he prays for the blessings of sage Bharatha the propagator of ''Nātya'' on the earth.
In the last stanza he compares his work to the
Kalpadruma- the heavenly tree which gives everything requested. Nātyakalpadruma also gives all details about Nātya that is Koodiyattam and so the name of the work Nātyakalpadruma is meaningful in all senses.
Chapters
The eight chapters included in this work are
* ''Samjnāprakarana''
* ''Paribhāshāprakarana''
* ''Mudra-Taalaprakarana''
* ''Swaraprakarana''
* ''Rasaprakarana''
* ''Abhyasaprakarana''
* ''Drishtāntaprakarana''
* ''Vaisheshikaprakarana''.
The first chapter Samjnaprakarana gives the names of costumes and other materials used in Koodiyattam. A detailed description of different names etc. used in Koodiyattam for different steps, actions etc. are also given in this chapter.

The second chapter Paribhashapakarana gives the names and descriptions of different types of narration, enacting, characters, their languages, characteristic features etc. This chapter also narrates different types of
acting which are included in koodiyattam on special occasions. For example, how to act on stage without dialogue such things like capital city, mountain, trees, garden, hermitage, seasons, heaven etc. are given presicely. Famous ''Abhinaya''s (acting) such as Kailasoddhārana (lifting of
Kailasa), Pārvatī Viraha (separation of Pārvatī) etc. are also included in this chapter. Details of wearing different
costumes and different types of ''abhinaya'' are also given here.
The third chapter Mudra-Taalaprakarana gives elaborate narration of ''
Mudras'' (movements of hands and fingers), their names and their usage in Abhinaya. Different ''
Taalas'' used in Koodiyattam are also described here. The usage of different ''Taalas'' according to different ''
Swaras'' (
Rāgas) and different contexts is the next point discussed in this chapter.
The fourth chapter, Swaraprakarana deals with different Swaras (Ragas) used in Koodiyattam they are 20 in number which are called ''Muddan, Shreekantthi, Thondu, Aarthan, Indalam, Muralindalam, Veladhuli, Danam, Veeratarkan, Tarkan, Korakkurunji, Paurali, Poraneeru, Dukkhagandharam, Chetipanchamam, Bhinnapanchamam, Shreekamaram, Kaishiki, Ghattanthari and Anthari''. Details of their usage in abhinaya according to Rasas, Characters, Contexts etc. are also narrated with suitable examples.
The fifth chapter which is called Rasaprakarana deals with Satwika-Abhinaya (''Satwikābhinaya'')- the most important one among the four types of ''Abhinayas''. Topics such as Nātya, Nritya, Nritta,
Rasa, Bhava, Vibhava, Anubhāva, Satwikabhāva, Vyabhicharibhāva, their enacting, movements of eyes for different Rasas and
Bhavas etc. are also discussed here . Some examples of Rasābhinaya (Rasa-Abhinaya) are also given. Thus this chapter gives a clear picture of the theory and practice regarding Rasābhinaya. The minute details of Netrābhinaya- enacting with eyes, eyes only are given here by the greatest master of Netrābhinaya.

The sixth chapter Abhyāsaprakarana deals with practical training in Koodiyattam. Here the author gives twenty one types of eye movement which are to be practiced by a Koodiyattam artist who specialises in Rasābhinaya. These are very important for Koodiyattam artist as well as artists from other classical art forms. Special duties of
Chakiars (actors),
Nangiarammas (actresses) and
Nambiars (drummers who play
Mizhavu) are also narrated here in detail .
Drishtāntaprakarana the seventh chapter contains examples of different types of ''abhinaya'', narrations of different types of stories and conversations etc. used in Koodiyattams. Peculiarities of languages to be used in different contexts by different characters are also given here.
The last chapter Vaisheshikaprakarana gives ''
Slokas'' used as benedictory verses in the beginning of different Koodiyattams with and without ''Abhinaya'', Slokas used in ''Nirvahana'', Slokas used at the time of elaborate special Abhinayas such as the beauty of heroine etc.,
Slokas used by ''Vidūshaka'' (Vidushaka) which are mostly in regional language
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...
or ''
Prakrit'', examples of stories used by Vidushaka etc. It also gives the details of special stage arrangements to be made for the performance of some rare scenes. Then the author gives the special rules and regulations to be observed by the Koodiyattam troop at the time of performance especially when it is done in a
Koothampalam (traditional theatre) or in a traditional
Hindu
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
temple which are the real stages of this traditional, classical art form. Some special rights of traditional families of artists are also given. Details of special performance in some traditional Hindu temples in Kerala are also discussed in this chapter.
Thus the work as a whole contains all details regarding the traditional classical temple art. One can see the footsteps of the great scholar, great artist and great ''Achārya'' (teacher or Guru) who lived on the stage for about 80 golden years, in this commendable work. His skill in all aspects of Koodiyattam especially the unparalleled Netrābhinaya are world-famous.
Translation
This monumental work has been published in
Hindi
Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
by
Sangeet Natak Akademi,
New Delhi
New Delhi (; ) is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the Government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Parliament ...
(1996). The translation was done by
Chakyar Koothu- Koodiyattam artist and son of Guru Māni Mādhava Chākyār, PK Govindan Nambiar- and edited by Dr.
Prem Lata Sharma.
See also
*
Māni Mādhava Chākyār
*
Natyashastra
*
Abhinaya
*
Navarasa
*
Chakyar Koothu
*
Koodiyattam
*
Sanskrit Theatre
*
Mani Damodara Chakyar
*
Kathakali
*
Mohiniyattam
*
Thulall
Notes
External links
''Natyakalpadrumam'' at open libraryorder ''Natyakalpadrumam''''Natyakalpadrumam'', Washington
{{DEFAULTSORT:Natyakalpadrumam
Indian literature
Malayalam-language books
20th-century Sanskrit literature
Hindu texts
Koodiyattam