I had been to see the performance of this artist (Margi Usha ) at the Parasurama Temple in Thiruvallam , Kerala, recently 
All the characters of the story will be enacted by one person to the accompaniment of the mizhavu played by the Nambiar's
 , the male members of a drummer sub-caste of temple dwellers and the 
kuzhithalam (cymbals) played by the Nangiar, the female members of this 
community. 
 
  As the name indicates, Nangiar koothu is performed by a woman of the Nambiar community.  
 With the founding of  the Ammanur Chachu Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam (Training centre for kutiyattam) in 1982 in Irinjalakuda, Thrissur district, by Padmasree Ammanur Madhava Chakyar, the last of the outstanding kutiyattam guru like Parameshwar Chakyar and Mani Madhava Chakyar, the revival of Nangiar koothu as the only artform of women in Kerala was taken up, too. 
. 
 
Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple is a 2000 year old temple, which is based 
on the banks of River Karamana. This temple is the only temple in the 
world that is dedicated to Lord Parasurama, who is believed to be the 
mythological creator of Kerala. During the Karkidaka Vavu day, devotees 
pay homage to the departed souls of their forefathers. As part of the 
religious ritual, devotees pray after taking a dip in the holy water of 
this temple. 
 
According to history, this temple was built during the 12th and 13th 
centuries. Managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board, this temple is a 
protected monument under the Archaeology Department of Kerala. Located 
about 9 km away from Kovalam Beach, this temple can be accessed by taxi 
or auto-rickshaw. 
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nangyar_Koothu 
Iam sorry , this Quick  painting do not do justice to the artist.. |  |   | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
The painting may be quick, but the eyes are really soulful and melancholic.
ReplyDelete