So would people exclaim after seeing Mani Madhava chakyar’s performance. It was not surprising they would do so. The Tamil poet Kamban, in describing the beauty of Sri Rama’s LIMBS, SAID ; Thol Kandaar, thole Kandaar. Those who saw sri Rama’s shoulders went on seeing only the shoulders, for they could not take their eyes off them. That idea would be true in the case of the eyes of Madhava chakyar. He achieved an amazing control over their movement. It is doubtful whether anyone in living memory has been able to master the movement of the eyes as Madhava cakyar did. I had known Chakyar from a much earlier date, but it was only in 1973 that I started getting to know him intimately. That year, T. Balasaraswati was to preside over the annual conference of the Madras Music Academy. Dr.V.Rahavan, who was the premier Secretary of that I organize demonstration of the abhinaya in Koodiyattam by Madhava Chakyar. I was rather reluctant to take Chakyar along because of my fear that he might be difficult to look after on account of his age. However, since Dr,Raghavan had particularly wanted Mani alone, I reluctantly approached the masestro and put the matter before him, covertly trying at the same time to dissuade him from accepting the programme. He was,howevar, we very enthusiastic about Dr.Raghavan’s invitation and readily agreed to perform.

I suggested to Chakyar that we should present, as much as possible, items involving abhinaya with the eyes and back it up with necessary theory to show how well Koodiyattam follows the tenets of Natya Sasta. I felt he was only lukewarm about my ideas,but,as it late in the day, we decided to meet agin the next week.On the second visit, I found that he had accepted and approved of all my ideas and was brimming with ideas of own to make the programme even more effective and succeful. There was, however, still a point which made me un easy, namely the necessary for completing the items selected within the time allotted by the Academy .Dr.Raghavan was known to be stickler for adhering to the established schedule. When I mentioned this to Chakyar, but he said he would rehearse each item not only to time it and fit it in properly in the overall programme, but also to teach it to me properly so that the explanation I had to offer

Would correct. Here was a master who could perform any portion any item preparation what

Obligation:-
Late L.S RAJAGOPAL
Sruthi