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Kapila Venu

@kapilavenu

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Actor/Performer of Traditional Theatre and Storytelling - Kutiyattam and Nangiar Koothu
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If someone were to ask me about the most beautiful dance I ever danced, I would say it is this one, it is this one. I only danced it once and could never have danced it again.

I had no record of this performance after my laptop broke down many years ago. And I can’t contain my excitement when @artesescenicasdeasia sends me these pictures. Perfect timing!

This ‘Solo Dance in the Rice Fields’ was choreographed by Min Tanaka (San) and performed at Dance Hakushu 2008.

This dance was inspired by the following lines from the first chapter of Kovilan’s novel Thottangal (തോറ്റങ്ങൾ)

സ്വപ്നമല്ല! അച്ഛന്‍റെ വിളി കേട്ടപ്പോൾ ഞെട്ടിപ്പോയി. ഞെട്ടലോടൊപ്പം ഓർമ്മവന്നു: ന്‍റച്ഛൻ ചത്തുകെട്ടുപോയി. ഉണ്ണിമോളേ! അച്ഛൻതന്നെ. ഉമ്മറത്തെങ്ങും ഒറ്റയാളില്ല.

അച്ഛൻ ചവിട്ടുകല്ലിൽ നില്ക്കുന്നു. കാലു കഴുകാൻ വെള്ളം. വേണ്ടാ, മോളേ, നമുക്കു പോകാം. അച്ഛന്‍റെ ദേഹത്താകെ ചേറ്, കന്നുപൂട്ടുന്നേടത്തുനിന്നു പോന്നതാണല്ലോ. അച്ഛനൊന്നു കുളിക്കണം.

വേണ്ടാ. നമുക്കുടനെ പോകണം. ഈ വീട്ടിൽ നിനക്കിനി പൊറുപ്പില്ല. അതു ശരി! എനിക്കിവിടെ പൊറുക്കാൻ വയ്യാ.

ന്‍റച്ഛാ എന്നെക്കൊണ്ടുപോകണം.

അച്ഛൻ നടന്നു. അച്ഛന്‍റെ കാലടികൾ നിലം തൊടുന്നില്ല. അച്ഛൻ പടിയിറങ്ങി. കാൽമുട്ടുകൾ മടങ്ങിയില്ല. മേലത്തെ ഒതുക്കിൽ നിന്നു നെട്ടനെ കീഴോട്ടൊഴുകി. അച്ഛൻ അപ്പൂപ്പൻതാടിയായി റോഡിനു മേലെ പറന്നു. പാലം കയറി. ഉണ്ണിമോൾ തിരക്കിട്ടു പടിയിറങ്ങി. റോഡിലേക്കു കാലെത്തുന്നില്ല. റോഡു താണു താണുപോകുന്നു. പുഞ്ചപ്പാടത്തു നിന്നു കൂക്കുകൾ കേൾക്കുന്നു. കരിങ്കല്ലുകളുടെ മഹാഭിത്തിയിലൂടെ പട്ടിണിക്കുന്തം എന്ന ചെകുത്താൻ ഉരുളുന്നു. അവൻ കൂക്കുന്നു. അവന്‍റെ ചെകുത്താൻകൂക്കിൽ അച്ഛനായിരുന്ന അപ്പൂപ്പൻതാടി പറന്നുപറന്നു പോകുന്നു. നിലയില്ലാത്ത റോഡിലേക്ക് ഉണ്ണിമോൾ വീണു. ഉറക്കം ഞെട്ടിപ്പോയി. അച്ഛൻ ഇല്ല. പടിയും പടിപ്പുരയും ഇല്ല. പട്ടിണിക്കുന്തവും ചെകുത്താൻ കൂക്കും ഇല്ല. ഇരുട്ടിലേക്ക് ഉണർന്നുനോക്കി. ഇരുട്ടു മലവെള്ളം പോലെ ഒഴുകി. മലവെള്ളത്തിൽ താനൊഴുകി.

Here is a gist -

A weary daughter dreams of her father’s ghost coming to rescue her from her husband’s home. She follows him as he floats down the stairs, over the bridge, over the road, over the rice fields. As he floats further and further away, unable to keep up, she falls into to the bottomless road, awakens into the darkness. She floats in a deluge of darkness.

Grateful for my years in Japan with Min San 🙇🏾‍♀️ by @kapilavenu

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2 years ago

Adi Shankara’s ‘Saundaryalahari’ conceptualised and choreographed by Guru G Venu, performed for @tharavart_official at Kakkattu Mana.

This piece is an elaboration of the first verse ‘Shivashaktyayukto..’ into which is brought in highly dramatic imagery inspired by Kalidasa’s Kumarasambhavam.

Accompanied by -
Kalamandalam Rajeev @kalamandalamrajeev
Kalamandalam Hariharan
Kalanilayam Unnikrishnan @kalanilayampanjal
Saritha Krishnakumar @saritha6045

Photography- @art_photos_of_sangeethraj

Light design @jose.koshy.39

Thank you @umasathyanarayanan for inviting us to this beautiful space 🙏🏾

#nangiarkoothu #gurugvenu #kapilavenu #natanakairali #kottichethamkutiyattamensemble #koodiyattam #kutiyattam #saundaryalahari #adishankara #storytelling by @kapilavenu

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2 years ago

If I was told I could choose just one character to play for the rest of my life, I would choose Gandhari of Urubhangam directed by G Venu without a second thought.

A gist of the performance text for Gandhari’s curse reads like this -

Krishna, the onus of this horrific battle lies in your carelessness/callousness. I lost every son I birthed to this war. The earth is soaking in the tears of mothers, wives, daughters and sisters. I curse you thus- Thirty six years from today, may all your sons, grandsons, all members of your clan die in battle with each other. May all the women of your clan perish with broken hearts and unimaginable sorrow!

So grateful that such a powerful character and scene were crafted into a play in which Gandhari has originally very little to do.

🙏🏾😇

Photo : @manojparameswaran
Illustration : @indigoranges

#urubhangam #gurugvenu #gandhari #gandharivilapam #kottichethamkutiyattamensemble #warsandmothers #bhasa by @kapilavenu

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2 years ago

💫✨ ALIF is excited to bring the world premiere of *Shaiva Koothu* by Kapila Venu to the 2027 @sydney_festival!

Through Nangiarkoothu, the solo storytelling tradition of Koodiyattam’s female performers, Kapila Venu brings the Tamil verses of the 6th-century saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar to life in a way never seen before.

In this powerful performance, she embodies Karaikkal Ammaiyar as a ghoul who dwells in the cremation ground, exploring questions of existence while finding bliss in her union with Shiva. It’s a deeply moving encounter between devotion, the body, and the mysteries of life and death.

One of the leading contemporary artists in Koodiyattam and Nangiarkoothu, Kapila Venu began training at just seven years old under the renowned Guru Ammannur Madhava Chakyar in Irinjalakuda. Since then, she has performed across Europe and Japan, bringing a distinctive feminist perspective to these centuries-old traditions.

Koodiyattam, meaning “combined acting,” is Kerala’s Sanskrit temple theatre and the only surviving form of ancient Sanskrit drama. With a documented history spanning over a thousand years, it was recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001.

🗓️ 14–16 January 2027
📍 Powerhouse Parramatta @powerhousemuseum
🎟️ Tickets on sale Thursday, 22 October. From $49.

💫 Join us for this special world premiere and experience a remarkable tradition brought to life in a new way. ✨

#SydFest #KapilaVenu #Koodiyattam #Theater #ShaivaKoothu taken in Powerhouse Parramatta by @kapilavenu

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3 hours ago

by @kapilavenu

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a day ago

Saundaryalahari Nangiar Koothu at Kanh Lalit Kala Kendra, Jalgaon for SPIC MACAY

Together with Kalamandalam Rajeev, Kalamandalam Hariharan and Kalanilayam Unnikrishnan by @kapilavenu

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3 days ago

Revisiting Devi Diaries ✨

This Navratri, we revisit Devi Diaries with a glimpse of Devi Chandika by Koodiyattam artist @kapilavenu
Mahishasuravadham: Adapted from Devi Bhagavatham and Devi Mahatmyam

As we celebrate the many manifestations of Devi this festive season, revisit the series that brings together diverse artists and their interpretations of the Divine Feminine.

✨ Watch the full video on NARTHAKI Official’s YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/B3zUUd2TK4c?si=291oK-AsamuilUql

#NARTHAKI #DeviDiaries #KapilaVenu #DeviChandika #navratri by @kapilavenu

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4 days ago

Imagine if one day, in the depths of the jungle, long after they had both moved on from Rama, Sita and Soorpanakha met.

This is the premise of renowned Telugu writer Volga’s story - Reunion which features in the her book ‘The Liberation of Sita’.

Moved by this text, which she kept close to her heart for many years, Guru Usha Nangiar conceptualised and directed a two part Kutiyattam play titled ‘Aranyasakhyankam’ - The tale of a friendship in the forest.

Ever so grateful that Usha chechi gave me the opportunity to play Sita in the second part of this beautiful performance which premiered on 10th and 11th Oct at the Abhinetri Kutiyattam Festival in Thrissur 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

And so moved and grateful that she insisted that Medha and Aran, children of two of her disciples (Dr. Aparna Nangiar and me) to play Lava and Kusha. Such a blessing for us all 🥲

@mizhavukalari
@volgakutungar
@aparnanangiar

Thank you @kalamandalamrajeev @vijayan__nambiar @hariharan.guptan @kalanilayampanjal @saritha6045 @kalamandalamvijay @kalamandalamvyshak @vineeshkalamandalam @haridas4810 @rahul.panchavadi.7 @sivan_venkitangu @athira_hariharan Kalamandalam Aswathy, Abhishek, Lakshmi Sila, Shibi Chakravarthy for all the support 🙏🏾

Photo - @thulasikakkat 💕 by @kapilavenu

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6 days ago

Kannagi, consumed by righteous fury, tore her left breast from her body and cast it upon the earth. And Madurai, unable to withstand the fire of her wrath, burned down to ashes.

From Cilapathikaram Koodiyattam directed by Sooraj Nambiar, produced by Tripudi and commissioned by Abhivyakti Festival

Thank you @chiraghthakkar for this photograph 🙏🏾 by @kapilavenu

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24 days ago

Happy to see my film Kapila screened tomorrow at IDSFFK as part of the Jury films ! Kapila had won awards at IDSFFK, @visionsdureel & National Award. Big Thanks to @kapilavenu @maneshmadhavan @iffklive @vskundu @renjithkuzhur @smijithkumarpb @kannansreerag @pcvishnunadh taken in Kairali Sree Nila Theatre Complex by @kapilavenu

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24 days ago

One and only Gopi Ashaan, everGREEN (literally) hero, pride of Kerala 🙇🏾‍♀️

Most of my childhood, teens and twenties I had കഥകളി പ്രാന്ത് - ‘Kathakali pranthu’ - a peculiar affliction known to but not restricted to Malayalees where a person becomes crazy for Kathakali and Kathakali actors, singers, percussionists etc and will travel to faraway venues following their favourite actors.

One of the main actors to watch whom I’ve travelled to faraway places in Kerala is Kalamandalam Gopi aka Gopi Ashaan - especially for Nalan (Nalacharitham) and Karnan (Karnashapatham)

It was so emotional for me to watch ashaan on stage today at a SPIC MACAY Convention even for a few minutes. So many memories of performances came cascading in.

Those who have watched a lot of Gopi ashaan will know that you always want get a seat in the first two or three rows because he may occasionally make eye contact with an audience member especially during a Sringara padam and it could be you and you will be left smiling about if for days ☺️

What a beautiful day! 😇

Performance photos - @thulasikakkat

#kalamandalamgopi #kathakali by @kapilavenu

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a month ago

കൂടിയാട്ടം

Koodiyattam • Kutiyattam • Kerala Art • Kerala Culture • Indian Classical Theatre • Sanskrit Theatre • Traditional Arts • Performing Arts • Temple Arts • Cultural Heritage • Kerala Tradition • Indian Heritage • Classical Art • Abhinaya • Mudras • Facial Expressions • Chakyar Koothu • Kerala Classical Arts • Ancient Theatre • Living Tradition • Cultural India • Art & Culture • Heritage of Kerala

#keralaculture #godsowncounty #kalaroopam #koodiyattam #thrissur by @kapilavenu

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a month ago