The Purisai Duraisamy Kannappa Thambiran Therukoothu troupe showcases "Panchali Sabatham" in Coimbatore, offering a condensed 1-hour version of the night-long traditional street play, on June 28 and 29 at at641 Community. Call 9500641043 for details.
Coimbatore: Taking the art of traditional Therukoothu to urban audiences, the Purisai Duraisamy Kannappa Thambiran Therukoothu troupe, led by the veteran therukoothu artist PK Sambandan, arrives in Coimbatore for a captivating performance of "Panchali Sabatham."
Historically performed overnight, "Panchali Sabatham" is a dramatization based on the Mahabharata. This street play typically begins at 10:30 pm and stretches till the early hours of morning, immersing the audience in a riveting tale that combines dignity, tragedy, and resistance centered on Panchali's story. However, the troupe has adapted the play to suit stage performances, significantly shortening it to an hour for modern audiences.
Alongside local city-based Udalveli Arts Foundation, this event is made possible by the collaboration with the Purisai Duraisamy Kannappa Thambiran Parambarai Therukoothu Manram and is produced by the Chennai-based collective Ilulu, which focuses on providing economic stability for artists. Dharanidharan, founder of Udalveli, emphasized the educational aspect of the performance, "We are bringing this ancient form of storytelling close to young audiences, who otherwise know of it only through textbooks."
PK Sambandan shared his perspective on condensing an epic narrative within 60 minutes: "It's about capturing the essence of the epic, starting with Duryodhana's deceptive dice game, leading up to Panchali's vow for justice."
Sambandan has been committed to spreading Therukoothu by teaching youngsters at Purisai and has seen his students perform internationally. Reflecting on changing performance contexts, he noted, "To adapt to today's world, we began developing short versions for city performances, where overnight plays are not feasible."
"It is essential that we keep these traditions alive and accessible," Sambandan added, noting that the performances are geared towards children aged 10 and above.
Panchali Sabatham will be performed on the nights of June 28 and 29 at 6.30 pm at the at641 Community. While there is no charge for admission, advance registration is required. Interested attendees can register by calling 9500641043 or visiting the at641 Community Instagram page. Additional performances will take place at Rukra Mahal in Erode on June 30.
Historically performed overnight, "Panchali Sabatham" is a dramatization based on the Mahabharata. This street play typically begins at 10:30 pm and stretches till the early hours of morning, immersing the audience in a riveting tale that combines dignity, tragedy, and resistance centered on Panchali's story. However, the troupe has adapted the play to suit stage performances, significantly shortening it to an hour for modern audiences.
Alongside local city-based Udalveli Arts Foundation, this event is made possible by the collaboration with the Purisai Duraisamy Kannappa Thambiran Parambarai Therukoothu Manram and is produced by the Chennai-based collective Ilulu, which focuses on providing economic stability for artists. Dharanidharan, founder of Udalveli, emphasized the educational aspect of the performance, "We are bringing this ancient form of storytelling close to young audiences, who otherwise know of it only through textbooks."
PK Sambandan shared his perspective on condensing an epic narrative within 60 minutes: "It's about capturing the essence of the epic, starting with Duryodhana's deceptive dice game, leading up to Panchali's vow for justice."
Sambandan has been committed to spreading Therukoothu by teaching youngsters at Purisai and has seen his students perform internationally. Reflecting on changing performance contexts, he noted, "To adapt to today's world, we began developing short versions for city performances, where overnight plays are not feasible."
"It is essential that we keep these traditions alive and accessible," Sambandan added, noting that the performances are geared towards children aged 10 and above.
Panchali Sabatham will be performed on the nights of June 28 and 29 at 6.30 pm at the at641 Community. While there is no charge for admission, advance registration is required. Interested attendees can register by calling 9500641043 or visiting the at641 Community Instagram page. Additional performances will take place at Rukra Mahal in Erode on June 30.