Golden Jubilee celebration of Vanitha Kathakali Sangam at Thrippunithura, Ernakulam district.

12- 13 July 2025: Golden Jubilee celebration of Vanitha Kathakali Sangam, Thrippunithura

Venue: Kalikotta Palace, Thrippunithura, Kochi, Kerala

The following are the schedule of the two- day cultural performances as part of the 50^th anniversary celebration of Vanitha Kathakali Sangam at Thrippunithura. Organised by Vanitha Kathakali Kendram, Thrippunithura in association with Thrippunithura Kathakali Kendram. 

12 July 2025:

09.30 am- Keli; Artists- Dr. Nandini Varma, Mahalakshmi Bharatharajan, Thiruvankulam Ranjith, Ravipuram Jayan Varrier.

10.00 am- Kathakaliyile Pen Naalvazhikal; a discussion based on the role of women in Kathakali; 

11.30 noon- Thalavadya  kacheri- A fusion of vocal and instrumental music presented by women artists- Aryavrinda V Nair (Vocal), Krishna Ajith (Violin), Ragasree J Mohanan (Flute), krithi Sowder (Veena), Sandhya S Prabhu (Mridangam), Pathiyur Kamalam (Thakil), Amrutha Varsha (Edaykka), Dr. Ameena Muhammed (Drums), Margi Rahitha Krishnadas (Chenda), Mahalakshmi Bharatharajan (Madhalam), Ratnasree Iyer (Tabla)- and directed by Rameshan Thamburan. 

02.00 pm- Ramaneeyam Ramayanam, Kathakali performance by women artists based on the lady characters Seetha, Mandhara and Thadaka from the epic Ramayanam. Directed by FACT Padmanabhan).

Play/story 1- Thadakavadham; Artists- Radhika Varma (As Thadaka), Thara Varma (Sreeraman) and Anuraj Thottakam (Viswamithran). Play/story 2- Vichinnabhishekam; Artists- Suma Varma (As Kaikeyi), Prameela Vijayan (Mandhara) and Radhika Ajayan (Dasaradhan).     Play/story 3- Kharavadham; Aetists: Kottarakkara Ganga (As Soorpanakha), Dr. Haripriya Nambuthiri (Lalitha), Geetha N (Sreeraman and Maya Nelliyodu (Lakshmanan).
Play/story 4- Panchavadi; Geetha N (As Sreeraman), Maya Nelliyodu (Lakshmanan) and Saritha Varma (Seetha).                                    
Play/story 5- Choodamani; Artists-  Parvathi Menon (Ravanan), Karthika Krishnakumar (Mandothari), Saritha Varma (Seetha) and Ranjini Suresh (Hanuman).                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Play/story 6 - Kaikasi; Artists: Jayasree Raveendran (as Kaikasi) and Karthika Krishnakumar (Mandothari) 
Play/story 7- Lavanasuravadham; Artists- Meera Narayanan (As Seetha) and Ranjini Suresh (Hanuman). 

Supporting Artists- Kumari Varma, Shylaja Varma, Kalanilayam Rajeevan, Kalamandalam Sreejith. Kalamandalam Ranjith, Thrippunithura Arjun Raj (Singers),  Gopikrishnan Thamburan, Sadanam RajeeshKalanilayam Akhil (Chenda percussionists), Hari Varrier, Kalamandalam Vineeth, R L V Jithin, RLV Midhun Murali (Madhalam), Kalanilayam Saji, Eroor Manoj, Kalamandalam Dhagin, Kalamandalam Abhithanath (Chutty/make up), 

05.00pm- Inaugural function & Award presentation ceremony.

06.00pm- Kathakali performance- continuation of Ramaneeyam Ramayanam 

13 July 2025:

10.00 am- Panchavadyam presented by the girls team of St Theresa’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Kannur. 

10.30 am- Saree Nritham, (the dance movements from Kathakali where the performer dance/ acts the way Saree is draped. pleared etc.) presented by senior women artists Sreemathi Antharjanam, Shailaja Varma, Geetha Adithya Varma, Girija Varrier, Lalitha Menon,  Shyama Rajagopal and Chithra Ramaswami. Supporting artists: Kumari Varma, RLV Kshama Raja (singers), R L V Neelakandan Nambaasan ( Madhalam percussionist) and RLV Midhun Murali (Edaykka). 

Singers-Kshama Raja and Keerthi Unni; Madhalam  percussionist-RLV Neelakandan Nambeesan.

10.45 am- Chavara Parukutty Amma Memorial Seminar 

(organized in association with Rajagiri Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems)

12.00 noon- Fudago; a traditional cultural expression of Kudumbi community presented by Srikurumba Konkani Kalasamskarika Vedi.

12.15 pm- Cholliyattam (Kathakali)

Artists: Kalamandalam Lakshmi Gopakumar, RLV Krishnendu, Sreedevi Olappamanna, Parvathi Pinakkamattam, 

Singers: Kalamandalam Sudheesh, Kalamandalam Rajesh Babu, Kalamandalam Sreejith, Sadanam Preman, Chenda- Kalamandalam Srivin, RLV Midhun Murali, madhalam- Kalamandalam Amithesh, Kalamandalam Sreehari.

From 03.30 pm- Valedictory function, Honouring Gurus and mentors of Vanitha Kathakali sangam, Concluding Ceremony. 

06.00pm- Kathakali performance; Story/Play- Duryodhanavadham

Artists: Priya Nambuthiri (as Durodhanan in Introductory par), Sharanya Premdas (Dussasanan in  introductory part), Varada Parameswaran (Kutty Bheeman),  Malavika Vijayan (Dharmaputhrar), RLV Vismaya (Sakuni), Induja Cheruliyil (Panchali), Dhanya Harikumar (Duryodhanan in Concluding part),Nikhila Vishnu (Dussasanan in concluding part), Nandana Thekkumpattu (Krishnan), Sandhya Krishnan (Arjunan), Aarcha Gowri Varma (Rowdra Bheeman). 
Supporting artists: 
Singers- Kalamandalam Saraswathi, Deepa Palanad, Meera Ram Mohan, Keerthi Unni, Adrija Varma; 
Chenda- Kalanilayam Ratheesh, Kalamandalam Sreeraj; 
Madhalam- Kalamandalam Sreekumar, RLV Neelakandan Nambeesan; 
Chutty- Kalanilayam Saji, Eroor Manoj, Kalamandalam Sudheesh.