An ode to the 'apostle' of koodiyattam

BORN into an agrarian Christian family in a nondescript village near Tripunithura, K G Poulose was hardly aware of either the cultural heritage of the temple town or Devabhasha Sanskrit. But he was destined to revive the dying Sanskrit theatre, koodiyattam.

- MANOJ VISWANATHAN @Kochi

BORN into an agrarian Christian family in a nondescript village near Tripunithura, K G Poulose was hardly aware of either the cultural heritage of the temple town or Devabhasha Sanskrit. But he was destined to revive the dying Sanskrit theatre, koodiyattam. Eighty years on, Kerala considers Dr K G Poulose as the apostle of koodiyattam.

In the third week of March, Tripunithura witnessed a rare, week-long festival of traditional arts. Artists from across the state gathered at the Sanskrit College, discussing the revival of traditional art forms in the mornings and performing koodiyattam, nangiar koothu, chakiar koothu, kathakali, and Sanskrit plays during the evening hours. The programme was organised by art enthusiasts and artists to celebrate the 'aseethi' (80th birthday) of Poulose and his wife, Prof T K Sarala, who together laid the foundation for the revival of traditional art forms. Almost all senior koodiyattam artists in the state performed at the event without remuneration as a tribute to their master, guide, and mentor.

On Thursday, former students and koodiyattam artists of the Sri Neelakanta Sanskrit College in Pattambi will organise a programme, titled Guruvandanam, to felicitate Poulose.

"It's an honour to be felicitated in a college where I worked 40 years ago. Now, fourth generation students are studying there," Poulose tells TNIE.

Born at Vandipetta near Thiruvaniyoor in Ernakulam district, he enrolled at the government school in Vennikulam for formal education.