VIOLIN WORKSHOP

Anand Krishnan.V.K, Govt.Engg College,Thrissur

As part of SPIC MACAY Calicut chapter activity, a violin workshop was conducted in our college
on April 1,2 and 3. The workshop was delivered by Idappally Ajith Kumar Sir. The program was
inaugurated by lighting the lamp by eminent gurus in presence of Shri Jayan Sir as
representative of the college
The workshop started with an introductory session. We were a group of 15 students, some
were novice, some already had basics while some were professionals. However all of us
looked forward eagerly for Ajith Sir's class. First we had a basic lesson, where we played
"swarashtaka" in Mayamalavagowla. We sang the swaras before playing in violin. Even
the novice could play it with ease. It was the unique effect of the class.
During second session of the day, we played a small composition of Thyagaraja in raga
"Sankarabharanam". This composition is simple but highly useful for practicing fingering
technique. At the end of the session we learned the pallavi of a composition "namo namo
raghavaya anisham" in raga " Desh Thodi " which is a lighter version of Ghana raga "Thodi".
On the second day, first we practiced the Sankarabharana composition and then
moved on to Desh Thodi. Before that novice were given basic classes. The sphere of Ajith
Sir's class is that he train us to sing each time before playing it in violin. This helps us to play
with enough gamakas or expression and not playing it mechanically.
Ajith Sir is a Mastero and Guru we could ever get. His techniques are perfect. Further, he
is very tolerant with students and clarity and perfection are his prime consideration. He gives
ample time to each and every student to catch his instruction. We could see him throughout with
a smiling face.
After learning two kritis we started a new composition "Pranamamyaham sree gouri
sutham " in raga "Gowla" composed by Mysore Devacharya. Since the composition is tough
we had to spend ample of time on this. At the end of the day he played "Seetha kalyana
vaibhogame " in two different ragas " kurinji " and "Navroj "
On the third day we practiced all compositions. Then he taught us the popular keerthana
"Bandureethi kolu" in raga "Hamsanatham". He even demonstrated how to improvise the
same by playing "manodharma raga, neraval and swaras". The session ended by playing
"mangalam" in "Madhyamavathi" as is the custom.
We were so fortunate that we could attend the workshop, interact and learn a lot from the
great mastero of Violin. It was a proud moment for all of us when we touched his feet for
blessings. Our sincere thanks to SPICMACAY

KATHAKALI WORKSHOP
Aruni J Govt. Engg College, Thrissur
We, the members of SPICMACAY GEC ( Govt.Engg. College) Chapter Thrissur,
conducted a two-day workshop on Kathakali (April 1-2) this year lead by Shri.
Kalamandalam Kuttan Assan accompanied by Kalamandalam Kuttikrishnan Assan,
Kalanilayam Madhumohan Assan and Kalamandalam Ananthanarayanan Assan.
On the first day, the workshops started by lighting the lamp by our beloved Jayan
Sir ( Faculty GEC), Eminent Gurus and Unni Sir. Basic lessons were discussed on the
first day. There were about fifteen students out of which five had already learned a
little bit of Kathakali. The other ten were new to it. In the beginning Unni Sir gave
us a brief idea about the origin of Kathakali from Ramanattam. He narrated the
story of Kottarakkara Thampuran and Zamoorin (once rulers of Kerala) which
lead to the formation of Keralas own traditional art form Kathakali.
In the training session, first we learned in detail the twenty four basic mudras of
Kathakali taken from the manuscript Hasthalakshana Deepika. Kuttan Assan
explained the difference in mudras of Kathakali and Bharathanatyam and that
made the class very interesting for the students who had not learned Kathakali.
After that Madhumohan Assan and Kuttikrishnan Assan gave us a class on
Navarasas, the basic facial expressions of kathakali. In the afternoon session
we could attend the cholliyattam of two co participants. One of
them
performed a padam of Krishana
Parshathi mama sakhi from Attakkatha
Duryodhanavadham and the other performed the famous padam of Ravana
Narada mahamune from the Attakkatha Balivijayam and with that we
concluded the first day sessions.
In the second day it was again a training session on ilakiyattams, as how the
mudras presented in Kathakali language (using body movements) while doing
padams. It was very interesting session because we could feel the difference in
holding hands, fingers and toes as of other classical art forms such as
Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattam and Kuchippudi. And then we went on with mudra
class, but in a different style and we learned different derived mudras from the
basic 24 mudras.
In the afternoon session there was presentation by students. It was a small portion
from the Attakkatha Lavanasura Vadham from Uthara Ramayana. The
context of the play Kusha and Lava seek their mothers (Seeta) permission to go
to forest for playing. But Seeta is afraid of leaving them alone and at last she gives
them permission. And then with Guru vandana the two day workshop came to an
end.

We thank SPICMACAY for giving us such a wonderful opportunity to interact with

eminent gurus.