video 'Religious Psycho drama'

Joph

This was a kind of temple act I didn't met before.
Does anyone remember simular religious-acting, as I show in this video clip? (link below this article)

The man with the long black hair really scared me, when he looked for long times with wide open eyes in mine. Like he really became a demon from a other world. I was a stranger, and didnot know what to expect. Uncertain too, how they felt about me filming them. At one moment he even took my camera, and started filming there own 'game'. Pity it were no good shots (too high). Between the scary moments he blessed me on the head, which really was a relieve. I felt that if he showed exceptance by blessing me in front of the audiance, the public would aproach me positive too. (important for me in rural area).

What I was seeing was; that they were playing with/trickering mine/our dreamlike fears. Like suggesting to take away the baby from a mother arms. Take off the doti from a man in front of full public. Some man they took to a fire in order to put in one of his legs!
They took my glasses. Made a whole act out of it.
Made glasses from tree leaves, and ordered me to film them closely. It was definitely a kind of message, like 'look' again, don't look through the minds opinions. Like I'm avoiding to see how things really are?

At Indiamike I can only put 1 minute video at a time, so it's very much a small impression I give about this evening.

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...hp/photo/19853

shashank.aggarwal

This is Kathakali...

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Random Reviews

Joph

I think I've seen some Kathakali in Cochin, which I found interesting and very boring. All this went according to strict rules. What I'm describing is actors who probably are acting while being on trance (maybe used something), using intuïtive powers, and doing spontanously interactions with public, and between themselves. No things like mudra's and such.

Nick-H

Curious.

I don't think it is kathakali. The stylised costumes and make-up are not there, the musical accompaniment is wrong, and it does seem to lack the finesse and precision of a classical dance style. Seems much more like some sort of folk dance or show.

Was this from Kerala? I'd guess from the music that it was: there appear to be a number of drums of the type called Chenda, which is used in Kathakali, but not several of them; that is a Keralan drum, but also fairly generic in design, so I can't say you wouldn't see similar elsewhere.

Kerala has more folk arts and dances than one can shake many sticks at. Certainly more than I've ever even heard of --- and I have no idea of any name to put to this performance.

What's the background story? Where were you, how did you come to see the performance? ANy more info?

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Joph

Thanks for asking, comes a long story.;-)

Hai Nick,
I was staying in a small ashram at 1 hour distance from Calicut. In the area of Kolathur, which is close to Balussery (Kerala).
Since I had been there before, and expected me to be there again in the future. I thought for that reason this time to register officially at the police station. Since I was staying in Balussery (and registered already there, before I went to the nearby Kolathur), I went to this police station first. They told me that Kolathur was a different district, and they send me to......police station. I went there a few days later, and they registered me, with copies of pasport and so on. Looked a done deal. 3 days later there had been a phone call for me in the ashram from this last named police station. I had to go to Vadakara (2 hours ride one way), to the head rural police station of that area to register!
I felt lost at that moment, because I felt the police did not communicate with other stations. I phoned back, but they said it was really necessary to go there.
I went there the next day. There in Vadakara they told me, that I didnot have to come there, but had to go to a village nearby the ashram! Angry I told them that I was finished with them, and would not go anywhere from there. Then the sai: "Okay okay"

My friends at the ashram were sorry about all this problems I got in return for my 'good' intention to register. When I got home from Vadakara they told me they wanted to take me that evening to a temple in the woods, to smoothen my emotions, and give me a positive experience. Nice no? ;-) "Take your camera with you", they said. They arranged a car, and at 10 pm off we went.

This 'show' went on all night, but we only stayed about 1,5 hour, which was already very intensive for me. I was confused about there performances.
1. Somehow I got the feeling that they knew very well the English traditional acting background.
2. This mixed up with odd (clown)kind of acting. This 'fool' as you might know in former times was the only one allowed to fool with the king, and show him things he could not accept from others.
3. Besides that they were very clearminded, but working like they were ecstatic too at the same time. In the end of the first act the man with the long black hair fainted, and other men cathed him, and prevent him from falling to the ground.
Oeps .....long story. ;-)

Nick-H

Well... quite an adventure!