RESURGENCE OF BHAGAVATA MELA AT MELATTUR
When NatesaIyer took ill and left Melattur in 1932, lack of interest
among younger generation, faction in the village and absence of an able
leader not only kept the disciples of Natesa Iyer away but also left the
performance a mere perfunctory ritual. Two years later, the tradition
fell in to oblivion and a year later Natesa Iyer passed away. The chief
participants in the play during the period were "Appilai" Narayanaswamy
Iyer, G V Narayanaswamy Iyer, his brother Ramaswamy, and T K
Rajagopalan.
It was at this crucial moment of time, "Melattur V.Ganesa Iyer," an
eminence grise, a disciplinarian and man of far-sight, formed a new
group of artists, singers and conductors with assistance from Bharatam
Nallur Narayanaswamy Iyer, Pichu Bhagavatar, K Gopala Iyer, C V
Muthuswamy Iyer, K Ramani Iyer, 'Piswati' Ramamurthy Iyer (all direct
disciples of Natesa Iyer) and Balu Bhagavatar. The new group founded in
1938 under the aegis of V.Ganesa Iyer was named as Melattur Sri Lakshmi
Narasimha Jayanti Bhagavata Mela Natya Nataka Sangam.
"Bharatam" Nallur Narayanaswamy Iyer and Pichu Bhagavatar trained R
Nagarajan, K Ramani Iyer trained G Swaminathan (son of V Ganesa Iyer
& my Father), K Gopala Iyer and C V Muthuswamy Iyer trained G
Krishnamurthy Sarma (son of the former), Piswati Ramamurthy Iyer trained
his son R Sundaram, and Balu Bhagavatar trained all other supporting
dance-actors. As much as 15 artistes were trained in a short duration of
two years and, the new group of artists brought Prahlada Charitam, to
the stage in 1941. Meanwhile, Markandeya, translated into Tamil, Usha
Parinayam and Rukmangadha Natakams of Venkatarama Sastry, choreographed
and directed by Balu Bhagavatar were staged in the sannidhi of local
Sree Siddhi Buddhi Sametha Dakshinamoorthy Vinayakar Temple
between 1938 and 1940. Soon after this, Nallur Narayanaswamy Iyer and
Pichu Bhagavatar passed away, and Balu Bhagavatar, a great scholar in
Sanskrit and an autodidact, took charge as the Chief Natyacharya.
The Sangam recruited more artists and singers. Notable among them were
N.Venkataraman, a talented dancer and P K Subbier, a singer adept in
singing sisams and padyams. Subbier was one of the young disciples
of Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar.
In process of time, the Markandeya Natakam following the original text
in Telugu and Harichandra Natakamu of Venkatarama Sastry were also
brought to stage.
The dancing and acting of G Swaminathan, a born dancer-actor with
striking personality, considerably enhanced the quality of the
performances. His portrayal of Hiranyakasipu is still the talking point
at Melattur. He set the stage ablaze and set a standard and pattern for
that role. He was fondly called as "Rajapart" and my Mother
Smt.S.Kalyani Ammal, for her selfless services to Bhagavata Mela
throughout her life is still remembered and people called her as a
"Divine Mother".
The tradition was thus seeing a secular change at the pertinacious
leadership and munificent patronage of V Ganesa Iyer in the company of
Balu Bhagavatar, K Ramani Iyer and the leading dance-actors like G
Swaminathan, G Krishnamoorthy Sarma, R Sundaram and R Nagarajan.
The year 1954 marked the introduction of S Natarajan, eldest son of
Swaminathan and grandson of V Ganesa Iyer. Trained by Balu Bhagavatar,
Natarajan impersonated all the challenging heroine roles. His ability to
play dance at sight and incredible acting opposite his father
undoubtedly fetched vast applauding crowds and furbished up the natakams
as well.
It was also at this time that R Ganesan, another versatile dancer-actor
and a cousin of S.Kumar, was introduced and nurtured. Thanks to
E.Krishna Iyer, a disciple of Melattur Bharatam Natesa Iyer and the then
Secretary of Madras State Sangeetha Nataka Sangam, and Mohan Khokar, a
research scholar in Indian dances and counter-part of the former in the
Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, this Sangam started receiving
subvention and publicity through their regular writing in media. The
services of E. Krishna Iyer & Mohan Kokhar for the cause of
Bhagavata Mela are laudable.
As ordained by H.H. Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati, the Sage of Kanchi,
the Sangam performed in the Vidwat Sadas at Elayattankudi in 1962,
organised and presided over by the Sage. H.H. Sri Chandrasekarendra
Saraswati Mahaswami.
In 1964, V D Swami, a Melatturian, business magnate, founded the
Bhagavata Mela Natya Vidya Sangam and acquired a piece of 2-1/2 acres of
land at the western end of the village with a view to have a spacious
stage and auditorium for the conveniences of the audience.
The nataka festival took place in the new venue in 1964 under the
auspices of the BMNV Sangam. The newly formed Sangam did not come
forward to organise the Bhagavata Mela Utsav in the following year and
the SLNJBMNN Sangam had to, therefore, conduct the utsav in the
traditional venue with patronage from V.D. Swami.
The schism, milieu in the village and the attitude of some members of
the BMNV Sangam being detrimental to the tradition and ideals of V D
Swami, Ganesa Iyer preferred, rather pledged, to continue the tradition
in the sannidhi of Sri Varadaraja Perumal. This marked the birth of
another group in 1966 that chose to perform in the land acquired by V D
Swami under the banner of BM.
In 1965, highly talented singers S Veeraraghavan and "Tirukkarugavoor" G
Srinivasaraghavan were recruited and inducted in to Bhagavata Mela.
In process of time, "Valli Thirumanam" - a popular natakam in Tamil
composed by eminent scholars of yester-years, and in association with
Thanjavur Saraswati Mahal Library "Kaveri Kalyanam", a Yakshaganam in
Tamil composed by King Shahaji (1684-1711 AD) were adapted to Bhagavata
Mela and staged.
Out of fraternity, the Bhagavata Mela Natakams, "Vipranarayana" and
"Rukmini Kalyanam", authored by Panchanadha Bhagavatar of Saliamangalam
were choreographed and staged at Melattur.
A natakam, Parvati Parinayam, of unknown author and provenance following
the format of Bhagavata Mela was also staged. The script of this
natakam was emended and handed over by Balu Bhagavatar.
It was in 1978, Swaminathan introduced his son, S Kumar - younger
brother of Natarajan, in the leading and challenging role of
Hiranyakasipu in Prahlada Charitam Natakam, to the surprise of every
one, especially when Swaminathan was in the pink and at his best. Kumar,
a born actor, performed beyond all praise in his maiden appearance and
has this day proved to be his father's son. The following year
Swaminathan lost his vocal cord and could not perform the lead roles in
other natakams too. And, Kumar took over all his father's role such as
Harischandran, Dharma Devan etc.
In the process of reviving the art, Ganesa Iyer not only went through
fire and water but also had to sell away, a bit by bit, his properties
to the tune 40 acres to meet with the expenses of the annual festival.
His son, G.Swaminathan had sold his Grocery Shop to meet the expenses of
Bhagavata Mela.
Ganesa Iyer was the one who installed and consecrated the processional
idol of Lord Sri Nrusimha with His Consorts at Sri Varadaraja Temple,
Melattur.
For the sacrifices Ganesa Iyer made and his yeomen services for the
cause of Bhagavata Mela, he accepted from the villagers an agnomen -
"Father of Bhagavata Mela".
The mournful years in the history were 1979 that saw the demise of
Kalaimamani K. Ramani Iyer, that of Padmasri Balu Bhagavatar in 1985 and
that of V. Ganesa Iyer in 1989. When he was on his death bed, Ganesa
Iyer asked his Grandsons to swear in the name of Lord Narasimha that
they would continue this tradition as long as they are alive. Kumar, who
was present, pledged and promised on behalf of his brothers. He passed
away within a few minutes.
Natarajan took charge and vowed to the service of BhagavataMela, the
Sangam recruited two young and talented singers, S Narasimhan and S
Venkatesan, popularly known as Thiruvayyaru Brothers, and nurtured
highly talented and most promising young dancers like Srikanth, Aravind,
and Vijay Madhavan. These young dancers were encouraged to undergo
advanced training in natya under the tutelage of Great Gurus like Dr.
Padma Subrahmaniam & Dr. Chitra Visweswarn. A talented and most
promising singer, L Prabhakaran, cousin of Kumar was also nurtured.
When the Sangam took to the tradition in 1938, the book of words for
only five natakams namely Prahlada Charitamu, Markandeya Charitamu,
Harichandra Natakamu, Rukmangadha Natakamu and Usha Parinayamu were
available at Melattur. In its quest for the missing libretti of the
seven natakams of Venkatarama Sastry, Natarajan left no stone unturned
and Dei gratia! at last traced and collected six of them in 1989. By
1994, five of this namely Hari Hara Leela Vilasamu, Seetha Parinayamu,
Kamsa Charita Natakamu, Rukmini Kalyanam, and Druva Charitamu were
operatized and staged. In 1997, the natakam Sati Savitri was also
staged. With this, eleven natakams are sanctified. The 50th year Golden
Jubilee was celebrated in 1990 at a national level.
In recognition of their talents and service, the veterans of this divine
art-form namely, G. Swaminathan, G. Krishnamurthy Sarma, Natarajan,
Kumar and T.G.Srinivasaraghavan, were very rightly honoured by the
Central/State Govt., and private Cultural/Religious Institutions.
Kalaimamani, Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, G. Swaminathan, a pious,
splendid performer and patron, passed away in 1995 just two hours after
the conclusion of the 55th year Nataka Mahotsav.
Today, all the dance-actors and musicians of this troupe are amateurs
engaged in different professions in different parts of India who
federate at Melattur at their own expense in votary; they rise the level
of their performance to that comparable with any professional troupe by
dint of the training they had from the direct disciples of the great
"Bharatam" Natesa Iyer, and "Padmasri" Balu Bhagavatar, Ramani Iyer,
G.Krishnamoorthy Sarma, G.Swaminathan & S.Natarajan.
When the artists of this Sangam perform on the stage, the lay man and
the connoisseur alike are transported to a spiritual world where there
is no distinction between the lover of art for its mere entertainment
value and the devout one yearning for spiritual solace. The viewers and
the actors lose their identity and all are converted as devotees
surcharged with emotion praying for the blessings of Lord Narasimha. The
purity of purpose of this tradition as maintained to this day in a unique
blend of Bhakti, music, dance and drama is to be witnessed at Melattur
to believe.
According to scholars, connoisseurs of music and dance, this day and age
is acclaimed as the "Golden Era" of Bhagavata Mela thanks to
Sri.S.Natarajan. We take pride in keeping ablaze the torch lit by
Venkatarama Sastry two centuries ago in the sannidhi of Sri Varadaraja
Perumal temple at Melattur, "for the sake of posterity".
On15th October,2020, the Great Legend of Bhagavata Mela, Sri.S.Natarajan
passed away. It has created a vacuum in the History of Bhagavata Mela
but as was the vision of V.Ganesa Iyer's family, this Divine Tradition
must go on. Sri.S.Natarajan's younger brother "Kalaimamani"S.Kumar has
taken over the responsibility of running this Tradition now.
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