Saturday, February 13, 2010

Keechakavadham



This is a beautiful story written by Irayimman Thambi. This story takes place when Pandavas were living incognito. Yudhishtira (as Kankan) was political advisor to Virada King, Bhima (As valalan) was cook, Arjuna (Brihandala) was a dance teacher, Nakula was horse keeper, Sahadeva was cattle manager and Panchali (Malini) was a maid servant.

The story begins with the "Tiranottam" of a wrestler. The wrestler came from a different country and he claims that nobody can defeat him in wrestling. He came to Virata's country and challenged everyone. Nobody could defeat him. Knowing this, Valalan came and defeats the wrestler in a wrestling competition (called as Malla Yudha).

When Malini was plucking flowers to make garlands, Keechaka (brother of Virata queen Sudeshna) saw her. He suddenly fall in love with her because she is so beautiful. Keechaka asked her to go with him to his palace to stay with him for a night. She refused it and left. Keechaka keep on thinking of her and he is not able to do anything. So he decided to approach his sister.

In next seen, Keechaka comes near Sudeshna and asks her for a favour. He told her that he wants the presence of Malini. Sudeshna first oppose him, but due to her love towards her brother, she agree with him.

Now Sudhesna calls Malini near her and praises her a lot. Then she order Malini to take food and wine to Keechaka's room. She strongly opposes and cries. But Sudeshna was firm on her decision. Thinking about her situation, Malini goes to Keechaka's room as if a female deer is forced to go to a powerful male lion's den. Keechaka asks her to stay with him on his bed. She refuses. She says that she has 5 male nature spirits (Gandharva) as her husbands always with her to protect her. Not considering to her voice, Keechaka tries to catch her. She ran away.

Malini comes to Valalan (Bhima) and tells her sorrow. Valalan made a plan to kill him without knowing others. He tells her to inform Keechaka to come to the dance room in the night. Later Valalan covers his body and sit in dance room. Keechaka thinks that it is Malini and touch the body from behind. Then he feels that the body is very hard like a rock. He came to know that the person sitting there is not Malini. Then suddenly Valalan takes hold of Keechaka's throat and suffocates him to death.

Knowing that Keechakan is killed, Upakeechaka and Bhiru comes. Valalan kills them also.

Keechakan - Kathi
Malini - Minukku female
Sudheshna - Minukku female
Wrestler - Minukku minister type
Valalan - Minukku minister type
Upa-keechaka - Red Beard
Bhiru - Special comedy make-up.

1 comment:

AMBUJAKSHAN NAIR said...

കീചകവധം വളരെ നല്ല കഥ ആണ്. എല്ലാത്തരം കഥകളി ആസ്വാദകര്‍ക്കും ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുവാന്‍ സാധിക്കുന്ന കഥ. ചെങ്ങന്നൂര്‍ ആശാന്‍, ഹരിപ്പാട് രാമകൃഷ്ണപിള്ള ആശാന്‍, പള്ളിപ്പുറം ഗോപാലന്‍ നായര്‍ ആശാന്‍, കലാമണ്ഡലം കൃഷ്ണന്‍ നായര്‍ ആശാന്‍ , കലാമണ്ഡലം രാമന്‍കുട്ടി നായര്‍ ആശാന്‍, മടവൂര്‍ വാസുദേവന്‍‌ നായര്‍, ഫാക്റ്റ് ഭാസ്കരന്‍ , കോട്ടക്കല്‍ ചന്ദ്രശേഖര വാര്യര്‍ ,കോട്ടക്കല്‍ നന്ദകുമാര് (ചെന്നൈയില്‍ നാം ഒരുമിച്ചു ഇരുന്നു കണ്ടതും )‍, കലാമണ്ഡലം രാമകൃഷ്ണന്‍, സദനം ബാലകൃഷ്ണന്‍, കലാമണ്ഡലം കൃഷ്ണപ്രസാദ്‌ എന്നിങ്ങിനെ ധാരാളം പ്രസസ്ത നടന്മാരുടെ കീചകന്‍ കാണാന്‍ അവസരം ലഭിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്.