Mattannur Baani, a documentary based on the life and legacy of chenda maestro Mattannur Sankarankutty, will be released on October 22. Produced by Sarvamangala Foundation and presented by the World Music Festival, the 51-minute documentary explores Sankarankutty’s enduring relationship with the chenda.
It delves into his early years of growing up in Mattannur in Kannur district and traces his days playing the chenda for Kathakali performances and his brief tryst with teaching, as a chenda instructor in the Kathakali department at the Vellinezhi Government High School.
Filmmaker Shruthy Sharanyam, who recently won the State Award for best director (female) in the Women/Transgender category for her film B 32 Muthal 44 Vare, captures the artiste’s journey and his unrelenting passion for chenda. “Documenting Mattannur Sankarankutty was a dream come true for me. I have always been a fan of his thayambaka. Through this documentary, we aimed at encapsulating what Sankarankutty is and his school of thought. For me, it was a prestigious thing, an honour, to work with an artiste of his calibre and to understand and capture his journey,” adds Shruthy.
Thayambaka is a solo chenda performance and Sankarankutty is celebrated for building his own repertoire, drawing inspiration from the Malamakkavu and Pallavur percussion styles, which are two prominent schools of Thayambaka. “Sankarankutty is credited with evolving the ‘Atanthakooru’ style of thayambaka. We have tried to explore this aspect of his creative genius,” adds Shruthy, who also scripted the documentary. She had to carry out the direction online as she was down with COVID-19. The team comprised Sudeep Elamon and Shyamaprakash as cinematographers, musician Sudeep Palanad, who conceived the idea and scored music.
“We have attempted to tell Sankarankutty’s life story in the format of the gradual progression of thayambaka,” says Sudeep. “He (Mattannur Sankarankutty) explored the potential of chenda and approached it musically; the way he has created his own identity in thayambaka is remarkable,” he adds.
Sankarankutty, the current chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, and a Padmashri awardee, is among the maestros from Kerala who elevated the chenda’s potential — from a humble instrument played on the temple premises to a high profile percussion instrument. “He made the thayambaka a visual spectacle. He enjoys celebrity status today, his performance draws huge crowds,” says Sudeep.
The documentary, took over two years to complete, is produced by Rakhi Ajay under the banner of Sarvamangala Productions. Suhail Saay Muhammad has edited the film. and colour grading is by Rashim Ahmed. Poster design is by Manoj Ramamangalam.
The documentary will be premiered at Sangeetha Naataka Akademi hall, Thrissur, on October 22 at 10 am.
