Kathakali (Stree Vesham) Recital by Probal Gupta June 17, 2009

Kathakali (Stree Vesham) Recital by Probal Gupta. Probal Gupta trained in Kathakali under the legendary Kalamandalam Govindan Kutty. He is presently undergoing advanced training under another well-known teacher, Guru Fact Padmanabhan. He has also been a student of leading Mohini Attam exponent, Padmashree Bharati Shivaji. His active performance career has taken him to prestigious dance festivals, including the Chidambaram Natyanjali Festival (2009), the Mamallapuram Dance Festival (2008), the Times Delhi Festival (2008), the Ghungroo Festival of the Government of Madhya Pradesh (2008), the Nataraja Festival, Mysore (2006), among others. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Centre for Kathakali Art in Bangalore , where he imparts rigorous training in Kathakali to aspiring practitioners. The distinctive feature of his performances is that he specializes in the Stree Vesham (female attire) aspect of Kathakali. Under the guidance of his guru, he has evolved a solo margam for the Stree Vesham of Kathakali. His work has drawn acclaim for its dexterous footwork, intense control over facial and body language and command over the Kathakali mudras. Dedicating his performance to the memory of the victims of the recent Mumbai terror attack, Probal will conclude with a stirring rendition of Vande Mataram (described by critic Leela Venkatraman as an item that is 'innovative in tradition').

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