Kalaimamani Kannappa Thambiran
Thiru. Kannappa Thambiran,
represents the fourth generation of the Purisai Theru-k-koothu
artistes. He has been performing for 70 years. He started his training
in his 10th year under the illustrious Koothu artiste and his father,
Purisai Duraisamy Thambiran and paternal uncle, Raghava Thambiran. He
has witnessed the courses the art has taken over the last half a century.
Today he represents the only major source of the northern style of Theru-k-koothu.
He has mastered the art and its sources. He can compose, improvise the
revels the many splendoured aspects of the art. He draws his texts from
the traditional sources, adding to them his proficiency in major classical
texts in Tamil.
Thiru. Kannappa Thambiran has
won several awards and honors. The Sangeet Natak Akademy ( Government
of India) conferred on him the prestigious national award. Hw is a recipient
of Kalaimamani title conferred by Tamil Nadu Eyal Esai Nataka Madram.
He has been awarded a fellowship by the Union Ministry of Education and
Culture.
Thiru. Kannappa Thambiran has
been alert to need to adopt the traditional form to new context. The two
major attempts in such adaptation he has demonstrated the strength and
flexibility of the Theru-k-koothu art. He composed a Koothu
text for the Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez “The old man with
huge-wings” for a performance in Koothu style. This production was
staged at the 5th International theater festival 1996 at Bogotá, Columbia,
winning critical acclaim. Similarly, he composed and choreographed Bertolt
Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle performed as part of Brecht’s centenary
in 1998. He has also composed the music for the collaborative production
‘ God has changed his name’ with Dr. Avanthi Meduri and Koothu-p-pattarai,
Chennai.
Kalaimamani P.K.Sambandam Thambiran
President
Born 1953. Younger son of Kalaimamani Purisai
Kannappa Thambiran. A fifth generation artiste of the Purisai School of
Theru-k-koothu, Sambandan has been performing since 1977 in
the main roles. His versatility and skill to improve have won him appreciation
from both the veteran artistes and the public. Sambandan’s skills have
been widened by his interaction with contemporary theatre efforts in Tamil.
In 1977 he participated in the National School of Drama workshop conducted
by Bansi Kaul at Gandhigram. Later he participated in the workshops of
Badal Sircar and Ingbor Mayor. He conducted workshops himself in Theru-k-koothu
at National School of Drama - New Delhi, International Theatre Workshop
– Alwaye, the Central University – Pondicherry, Bhaskar’s Arts Academy
- Singapore. In keeping with the selective approach of his group
particularly his Guru. Sambandan directed the Group’s Koothu version of
Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s A Old Man with Huge Wings, for 5th International
Theatre Festival at Bogotá, Colombia in 1996. He also directed the Brecht
centenary Koothu production ‘Caucasian Chalk Circle’ in 1998. He choreographed
production between Koothu-p-pattarai and Dr.Avanthi Meduri.
He also directed Thenali Raman and Basan’s Dhoodha Gadothgajan.
Sambandan was conferred the
prestigious title Kalaimamani by the Tamilnadu state Eyal, Isai, Natak
Mandram in 1995. He also given a scholarship under the Young talented
artistes scheme of the Union Ministry of Culture, Government of India
in 1985. He was also conferred the prestigious Title Nataka Thamizh Ariangar
by Pongu Thamizh Arrakattalai in the Year 2002 and Dakshina Chitra Kalai
Virudhu by Madras Craft Foundation in the year 2004. Podhigai Award by
Chennai Doordharshan in the year 2007. Nritya Kala Nipuna Award by Nrityalaya
Aesthetics Society, Singapore (2008) Sambandan has accompanied his troupe
in all major performance within India and abroad. He has performed in
France (1985&1997), Sweden (1987), Singapore (1990), Colombia (1996),
Singapore (2004 & 2005) and the USA (2006), 65th birth Anniversary
Festival of Neelan Tiruchelvam in Srilanka (2009) and performance at 25th
Republic Day Parade at New Delhi (2009).
Kannappa Kasi Thambiran
Secretary & Group Leader
Kannappa Kasi Thambiran, a fifth generation
Theru-k-koothu artiste, was born to Kannappa Thambiran and Kannammal
as the second child in 1945 in the village Purisai in the present Thiruvanamalai
District. He completed his school education in Chennai. He has been performing
for nearly 30 years now in his father’s troupe Purisai Duraisamy Kannappa
Thambiran Paramparai Theru-k-koothu Mandram, in the most important
and demanding role as Kattiyakaran. He has performed all over the India.
He has accompanied his troupe at the festival of India performances in
France (1985), Sweden (1987). He has also performed in Singapore (1990),
Colombia (1996) and France (1997). The important cultural festival he
has performed includes SAARC festival (1984), Madras Festival organized
by South Zone Cultural Centre (1984), Interstate Cultural Exchange Programme
(1982) in U.P., Apna Utsav (1988). He has trained students in Koothu at
the National School of Drama, New Delhi (1986,1987), Students at Central
University, Pondicherry (1989, 1991,1994); he has participated in the
International Theatre Workshop at Alwaye (1992,1994). He was production
manager for all Koothu – P – Pattarai’s plays till 2000.
Kasi is also actively interacting
with contemporary theatre in Tamil. He has participating in many plays
of Koothu-p-pattarai and workshops conducted by internationally
well know theatre directors like Peter Brook (1989), John Martin (1984,
1991), Ingaborg Mayer (1985,1990), Prof.S.Ramanujam (1992), Anmol Vellani(1991)
and N.Muthuswamy (several years).
Kannappa Kasi has accompanied
his troupe in all major performance within India and abroad. He has performed
in France (1985 &1997), Sweden (1987), Singapore (1990, 1992&
1998), Colombia (1996), Singapore (2004), 65th birth Anniversary Festival
of Neelan Tiruchelvam in Srilanka (2009) and performance at 25th Republic
Day Parade at New Delhi (2009).
