http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kathakali-distortion-condemned/195127-60-116.html
Time 24-12-2011; 11.15AM
Intellectuals Condemn Benale Festival and Pattanam
Express,
in its Kochi edition, carried a report the other day on the�
controversy over the vulgar portrayal of Kathakali in the brochure
which� carries the picture of a painting in which a Kathakali artiste’s
embellished head is shown fixed on the body of a muscleman wearing only a
loin cloth and carrying a mace in his hand.
Noted
artistes such as Kalamandalam Gopi had expressed anguish and protest
over the vulgar portrayal in the brochure for the Indian edition of an
Italian festival, which is slated to showcase India’s rich cultural and
social heritage, which will be taken around the world.
The
festival, the brainchild of former minister M A Baby, is expected to
attract funding amounting to Rs 100 crore of which a major portion is
from the Centre and State Governments.
Responding
to the news report, Parameswaran said that the shift in the interest of
the stakeholders from archeological excavation to heritage� project and
now to conducting a foreign festival to promote tourism was a dubious
one.
“To start on an academic note, end
up in heritage and tourism projects and link it with Biennale festival,
the entire issue is surrounded by a kind of mystery. What I don’t
understand is how does Pattanam excavation connected to Biennale, an
Italian festival,’’ he said.
A foreign
festival, which is in no way connected to the excavation, should not be
supported by the government. Now, the brochure reveals what they are
aimed at. In the name of culture, in fact, they are denigrating the
culture, Parameswaran said.
historicus has left a new comment on your post "Syrian Malabar Christian and Pattanam -From Wiki...":
ReplyDeleteThe attempts of Prof. George Menachery to interest agencies and Govts to undertake a Muziris - Red Sea or Red Sea - Muziris sail ship voyage did not fructify. The Many articles, papers, books which he had published along with Maggy G. Menachery failed to receive the kind of attention that was needed to fulfil his dreams of a Aden/Socotra/Gulf - Muziris voyage in a sail ship manufactured in Kerala say at Beypore or one made abroad using the Teak wood and Coir of Kerala and employing artisans from Kerala. He was constantly prowling the Gulf countries and studying about Aden and Socotra and trying to get various Govt. agencies.