Yayati – Life and Desire
A Kutiyattam Recital
Part of the All for Dance Series
RSVPs open on Sat, Aug 8 at 7pm.
Performer
How far will a man go to prolong a life of indulgence?
This Kuttiyattam performance interweaves the special pakarnnattam technique with dance to tell the story of Yayati.
Drawing on the Mahabharata, the Puranas, V. S. Khandekar’s celebrated novel, and Girish Karnad’s play, the story unfolds as Yayati openly marries Devayani, daughter of Shukracharya, preceptor of the Asuras, and her friend, the Asura princess Sharmishtha, in secret. Bound by worldly pleasure, he goes so far as to borrow his own son’s youth to prolong his indulgence. Will he reckon with the cost of his greed?
Credits:
Director & Performer: Sooraj Nambiar
Production Manager & Coordinator: Aswathy Sarojini
Mizhavu Artistes: Kalamandalam Rajeev & Kalamandalam Vijay
Idykka: Kalanilayam Unnikrishnan
Makeup & Chutti: Kalamandalam Vyshak
Talam: Saritha T. R.
This is the tenth edition of the ‘All For Dance’ series presented by Kalavaahini in association with BIC, curated by Malavika Sarukkai. The ‘All For Dance’ series is presented every quarter at BIC to spotlight some of the best of classical dance from across India. The event is managed by Shreya Nagarajan Singh Arts Development Consultancy.
In collaboration with:
Venue: Auditorium
Performer
Sooraj Nambiar
Sooraj Nambiar is a renowned Kutiyattam artiste, actor, director, and acting trainer, trained under Padma Bhushan Ammannur Madhava Chakyar and Shri Ammannur Kuttan Chakyar, and mentored by Guru G. Venu. He received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2009) and the Kerala Kalamandalam Award (2023). Since his 1991 debut, he has performed leading roles in acclaimed productions including Urubhangam, Abhijñaśākuntalam, Vikramorvaśīyam, and Mruchchakatikam, presenting Kutiyattam at festivals across India and abroad. He co-founded Tripudi – Art Centre and Acting Laboratory, and has directed works including Ravanankam, Unmatta Vikramam, and Yayati (2025). He has also taught at leading institutions including the National School of Drama, School of Drama & Fine Arts (Thrissur), Bhartendu Natya Akademi, and the K. R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts. His training methodologies — Lochanam, Bhavangikam, and Eakṣa — reflect his distinctive approach to actor training, and have been presented through workshops and residencies across the country.
You might also like
