Nokkuvidya pavakali

Nokkuvidya pavakali or simply Nokkuvidya is a type of puppetry from Kerala, India. It is a method of telling stories by moving small puppets fixed on a two foot long thin stick which is holding between the nose and the upper lip. It usually depicts stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Nokkuvidya pavakali
Ranjini, grand daughter of Moozhikkal Pankajakshi performing Nokuvidyapavakali at the stage of UTSAVAM2017 at Kanhangad in Kasaragod Dt.

Overview

Nokkuvidya pavakali is a type of puppetry practiced in Kerala, India. It is a method of telling stories by moving small puppets fixed on a thin stick which is holding between the nose and the upper lip.[1]

Nokkuvidya is a folk art form performed by the Velapanikar community of Kerala.[2] It was originally called Onamthullal as it was performed during the days of Onam.[2] A Nokuvidya puppet show usually depicts the stories from Ramayana, like the battle of Rama and Ravana and Sita's return.[1] Stories from Mahabharata are also performed.[2]

Myth

According to the myths, in the past, Shiva and Parvati disguised themselves as Kuravan and Kurathi (Velan and Velathi).[1] At that time Lord Shiva performed an art form to please Goddess Parvati.[1][3] Lord Shiva was the first to perform Nokkuvidya by making few puppets out of wood hewed from Ezhilampala tree in the forest and fixing a kamuk stick below it.[1][3] It is believed that the art form was later passed on to the later generations of the Velar community.[1]

History

Nokkuvidya is an art that was encouraged by the kings of Travancore by giving them silk and bangles.[4] This art form was very popular in South Kerala during Onam days.[4] But this puppet show, disappeared from the performance over time.[4] Later, Moozhikkal Pankajakshi brought this art form back to public attention.[5] Ranjini, grand daughter of Moozhikkal Pankajakshi is also a noted performer of Nokuvidya pavakali.[4]

Making

Puppets for the Nokkuvidya are made by carving the wood of Ezhilampala (Alstonia scholaris).[1] The two foot long stick which the puppets are fixed is made with wood of the kamuk (Areca catechu).[1] Natural coloring substances like charcoal, leaf extracts and fruit juice are used as colours.[1]

Performance

This art form is performed sitting on a grass mat spread on the ground. The Nokkuvidya pavakali begins by lighting a Nilavilakku and praying for the blessings of Ganesha, Saraswati and Lakshmi.[1] Then three lamps (represents three eyes of Shiva) fixed on a two-foot-long wooden stick, holding between the nose and the upper lip, is lit.[1]

After the initial prayers the puppet show begins. The puppets fixed on a two foot long stick will then be balanced above the head, holding between the nose and the upper lip.[1] The string connecting the puppets is moved gently with the hands to the rhythm of the song and the story.[1]

The background instruments used are Ganchira and Kaimani.[4]

Works on Nokkuvidya

Reshmi Radhakrishnan's documentary film Nokkuvidya, The life of a lone string puppeteer, screened at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala, is about Nokkuvidya and it's performers Pankajakshi and Renjini.[6]

See also

References

  1. "'11 വയസ്സ് മുതൽ നോക്കുവിദ്യ പാവകളി പഠിച്ചുതുടങ്ങി; മച്ചിങ്ങ വീണ് മുഖത്ത് ചതവും ഈർക്കിലി കുത്തിക്കയറലും അന്ന് പതിവാണ്'; പത്മശ്രീയേക്കാൾ തിളക്കത്തോടെ പങ്കജാക്ഷിയമ്മ! | Padmasree award winner". vanitha.in (in Malayalam). Vanitha. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  2. "അന്യം നിന്ന നോക്കുവിദ്യ പാവകളിയുമായി ഒരു മുത്തശ്ശിയും കൊച്ചുമകളും, അവരെ ലോകത്തിന് മുന്നിലെത്തിച്ച് മറ്റൊരു പെൺകുട്ടി". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  3. "Meet KS Renjini: The 22-year-old Keralite striving to popularise rare 'nokkuvidya pavakali' art". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  4. C. H, VVija (2022-04-17). "രഞ്ജിനിയും നോക്കുവിദ്യ പാവകളിയും". www.madhyamam.com (in Malayalam). Madhyamam. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  5. Anand, Shilpa Nair (2021-04-28). "Nokkuvidya Pavakali's lone practitioner". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  6. "This Malayalam documentary is about a little-known puppetry form performed by women". The News Minute. 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
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