PMBAKAVADHAM KATHAKALI
(Written by Kottayathu Thampuran)
The story
Kunthi and her five sons (Pandavas) had a narrow escape (through an underground passage) from the palace built of highly inflammable materials (by Duryodhaan) and reached the Hidimba forests. Hidimbi, sister of the demon Hidimban, falls in love with Bhimasenan, the mightiest of the Pandavas. She appears in the form of a beautiful young lady (Lalitha) and approaches Bhimasenan, Hidimban happens to see them together, gets furious and fights with Bhimasenan. In the fight, Bhimasenan kills him. As advised by Saint Vyasan, Bhimasenan marries Hidimbi.
Scene 1:
Bhiman and Lalitha in an amorous mood ('Baale varika...). Bhiman, in love, appreciates and describes the beauty of Lalitha (this scene is typical and highly rhythmic, Wrictly based on the long, traditional 'Kalari' training). In due course, a son named Ghatotkachan is born to them.
Scene2:
(Bhiman, Lalitha, Ghatotkachan) Ghatotkachan pays his respects to his father. Bhiman blesses him. The son promises to appear at any moment he is wished for and bids farewell.
Scene 3:
The Pandavas reach a village called Ekachakra. The villagers are afraid of the Rakshasa Bakan, who wants a cartful of food, as well as the man who drives the cart as his daily meal. An aged Brahmin and his wife are seen overwhelmed in grief because the next day falls the turn of their only son to take the cart with rice and curries and be the victim.
Scene 4
(Kunthi, Brahmin and his wife) Kunthi inquires about the reason for their grief. They say that the very next day is the turn of their only son to take the cart to the demon when the latter is sure to kill their son for food. Kunthi consoles them, saying she has a mighty son who could take the cart of food and defeat the demon.
Scene 5: (Kunthi, Bhiman)
Kunthi asks her son to take the cart with food, with directions to eat the food himself, kill Bakan and save the lives of the poor village men.
Scene 6 (Brahmin, Bhiman)
Bhiman meets the father of the young man who is to meet Bakan. They fill the cart with food. TheBrahmin explains to Bhiman the route to Bakan's forest and wishes him all success. Bhiman sets forth to meet the demon (here the actor describes all the dreadful scenes he comes across en route, such as the roaring of wildlife, the skeletons of men killed by the demon and so on). He reaches the demon's den and challenges him to a fight.
Scene 7: (Bhiman, Bakan)
Bakan makes his traditional appearance on scene (called Thiranokku). He feels hungry and is waiting for the usual food to arrive, In the meantime, he hears some words of challenge and decides to go near that voice. Now we see Bhiman, cool-headed, eating the food he has brought for the demon. Bakan is not worried because he feels that once he eats Bhiman the food consumed by him would also enter his (the demon's) stomach. The mighty Bhiman after taking the food starts his fight with Bakan. In the fight, Bakan is killed.
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