Natyasangam

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P.S.V. Natyasangham is a Centre for performing and teaching Kathakali, the classical theatre of Kerala. It was established by Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier in 1939 and has flourished under the benign care of Arya Vaidya Sala to reach its present stature of a Centre of national repute. The founding of the Natyasangham was symbolic of the major efforts of national renaissance that P.S. Varier undertook. He had established a Drama troupe, Parama Siva Vilasam Drama Company, in 1909 which was known for its spectacular presentations of musical dramas. He had himself scripted the plays, set music and directed the shows. The Company travelled to every major town of Kerala and performed. He had even put up permanent drama halls at Kozhikode and Palakkad. P.S. Varier’s contribution to the development of Malayalam theatre has been well recognised.

By the end of Thirtees, Varier recognised the changing trends and appreciated the growing importance and inherent merit of Kathakali which was languishing then in public disregard. He established the Natyasangham with the aim of popularising this unique form of classical theatre by training professional artists and by organising performances for the public to view. He appointed master teachers and recruited talented students. Some of the all time greats like Pattikkantodi Ravunni Menon, Guru Kunchu Kurup, Kavalappara Narayanan Nair, Vazhenkata Kunchu Nair, Kalamandalam Neelakanthan Nambissan, Kottakkal Krishnankutty Nair, Kottakkal Kuttan Marar, Kottakkal Vasu Nedungadi and Kalamandalam Unnikrishna Kurup had been in the faculty of the Natyasangham. Some of the leading artists of today’s Kathakali stage are the products of the Natyasangham. The Natyasangham has travelled widely and performed in major Cultural Centres of the country. It has also visited several European and Far Eastern countries like Germany, Switzerland, France, China, Korea and Indonesia.

P.S.V. Natyasangham is famous for its strict adherence to classical tenets of performance, talented artists, spectacular costumes and meticulous training. Apart from presenting the classical stories, Natyasangham has choreographed some new plays also, which have been well received by the knowledgeable viewers.

P.S.V. Natyasangham is now recognised as one of the major Centres of Kathakali of today.