Kathakali: In conversation with Madavoor Vasudevan Nair

Madavaoor Vasudevan Nair was one of the prominent Kathakali masters who played a significant role in standardising the southern school of Kathakali known as the ‘Kaplingadan Sampradayam’. The school was named after the great 18th-century master, Kaplingattu Narayanan Namboodiri, who was responsible for evolving the style that emphasised bhavabhinaya or facial expressions.
In this interview with V. Kaladharan, Vasudevan Nair recalls his days as a student and a young performer, showing great promise before emerging as the final word on the Kaplingadan style. His focus on dramatics and reliance on dashes of realism were in stark contrast to the more stylised Kalluvazhi School of central Kerala.
V. Kaladharan is a senior art critic and author. He served Kerala Kalamandalam for three decades before retiring as its superintendent in 2013.
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