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 | |
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 Ranjini, grand daughter of Moozhikkal Pankajakshi performing Nokuvidyapavakali at the stage of UTSAVAM2017 at Kanhangad in Kasaragod Dt. |
Overview
editNokkuvidya 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
editAccording 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
editNokkuvidya 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
editPuppets 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
editThis 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
editReshmi 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
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "'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. Archived from the original on 2023-04-10. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ a b c "അന്യം നിന്ന നോക്കുവിദ്യ പാവകളിയുമായി ഒരു മുത്തശ്ശിയും കൊച്ചുമകളും, അവരെ ലോകത്തിന് മുന്നിലെത്തിച്ച് മറ്റൊരു പെൺകുട്ടി". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 2021-04-10. Archived from the original on 2023-04-10. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ a b "Meet KS Renjini: The 22-year-old Keralite striving to popularise rare 'nokkuvidya pavakali' art". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2023-04-10. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ a b c d e C. H, VVija (2022-04-17). "രഞ്ജിനിയും നോക്കുവിദ്യ പാവകളിയും". www.madhyamam.com (in Malayalam). Madhyamam. Archived from the original on 2023-04-10. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ Anand, Shilpa Nair (2021-04-28). "Nokkuvidya Pavakali's lone practitioner". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2023-04-10. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ "This Malayalam documentary is about a little-known puppetry form performed by women". The News Minute. 2021-12-17. Archived from the original on 2023-04-10. Retrieved 2023-04-10.