The seventeen recordings of plays were made in three groups in different locations:
(i) Seven plays performed by Kerala Kalamandalam troupe, recorded in Paris in November, 1983
(ii) Seven plays performed by Kalabharathi troupe, recorded at Pakalkuri in 1989
Note: To celebrate the “shashtapoothy” (60th birthday) of the actor Madavoor Vasudevan Nair, seven plays were performed at the Kalabharathi Kathakali School, Pakalkuri, in South Kerala to which he was appointed as professor of Kathakali after ceasing to be an asan (teacher} at the Kerala Kalamandalam. In those seven plays, Madavoor acted all the major roles, assisted by Kalamandalam Rajasekharan (one of his former pupils at the Kalamandalam) and one or two Kalamandalam trained actors and musicians whose names are mentioned. These recordings clearly demonstrate the variety of roles that a Kathakali actor has to perform.
(iii) Three plays recorded in the Kerala Kalamandalam in 1991
B1 Balivadham (The Killing of Bali)
by Kottarakkara Tampuran (1555-1605), based on a story from The Ramayana
Kerala Kalamandalam troupe, recorded in Paris in 1983 (i)
Ravana…………………..Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharoty
Maricha…………………..Kalamandalam M.P.Sankaran Namboodiri
Rama……………………..Kalamandalam Gopi
Lakshmana………………Kalamandalam Balasubramanian
Sita……………………….Kalamandalam Rajasekharan
Sanyasi………………………Kalamandalam Krishnaprasad
Hanuman……………………Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair
Jatayu………………………..Kalamandalam Soman
Sugriva…………………..Kalamandalam Karunakaran
Bali……………………….Kalamandalam Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri
Tara………………………Eva Szily
Chenda……………………..Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan
Maddalam………………….Kalamandalam Naranayanan Nair
Music………………………..Kalamandalam Gangadharan, Madambi Subramanian Namboodiri
VHS original (2 hours 35 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by K.K Gopalakrishnan
B2 Banayudham
by Balakavi Rama Sastry (1772-1840), based on a story from The Bhagavata Purana
Kalabharathi troupe, recorded at Pakalkuri in 1989 (ii)
Bana……………………..Madavoor Vasudevan Nair
Siva………………………Clappana Kiran Prabhakaran
Parvati……………………Clappana Reshmi Prabhakaran
Nandikeswara…………..Kalabharathi Rajan
Ganapati…………………Vasudevan
Subramaniam……………Suresh Babu
Kimkaras…………………Kalamandalam Unnikrishan, Kalabharathi Harikumar
Vriddah……………………Kalabharathi Devadas
Anniruddha………………Kalamandalam Rajasekharan
Chenda…………………..Ayamkudi Kuttapan Marar
Maddalam……………….Kalanilayam Rajan
Music………………………..Kalamandalam Surendran
Video 8 original (2 hours 3 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by Kottakkal Sasidharan Nair
B3 Dakshayagam
By Irayimman Tampi (1783-1856), based on a story from The Bhagavata Purana
Kerala Kalamandalam troupe, recorded in Paris in 1983 (i)
Daksha………………………Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair
Prasuti……………………….Kalamandalam Krishnaprasad
Sati……………………………Kalamandalam Rajasekharan
Brahmin……………………..Kalamandalam M.P.Sankaran Namboodiri
Siva…………………………..Kalamandalam Gopi
Indra…………………………Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharoty
Virabhadra…………………Kalamandalam Nelliyode Vasudevan Namoodiri
Bhadrakali………………….Kalamandalam Soman
Chenda……………………..Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval
Maddalam…………………Kalamandalam Appukutty Poduval & Narayanan
Music………………………..Kalamandalam Gangadharan, Kalamandalam Subramanian
VHS original (1 hour 46 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by K.K Gopalakrishnan
B4 Duryodhanavadham Scenes 8-10
By Vayaskara Aryan Narayanan Moosad (1841-1902), a Kathakali story from The Mahabharata
Recorded in the Kerala Kalamandalam in 1991 (iii)
Krishna…………………..Kalamandalam Karunakaran
Draupadi…………………Kalamandalam Venkitaraman
Sakuni……………………Kalamandalam Balasubramanian
Duryodhana……………..Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan
Dussassana……………..Kalamandalam Sooryanarayanan
Roudra Bhima…………..Kalamandalam Ramachandra Unnithan
Chenda………………….Nandakumar, Unnikrishnan
Maddalam……………….Prakasan, Hari Narayanan, Kutty Narayanan
Music…………………….Kalamandalam Sukumaran, Kalamandalam Narayanan
Video 8 original (1 hour 46 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by Kottakkal Sasidharan Nair
B5 Kacha Devayani
By Tazhavana Govindan Asan (19th Century), a Kathakali story from The Mahabharata
Recorded in the Kerala Kalamandalam in 1991 (iii)
Kacha…………………….Madavoor Vasudevan Nair
Sukracharya…………….Chandramana Govindan Namboodiri
Devayani…………………Kalluvazhi Vasu
Hunter……………………Kalamandalam Manoj Kumar
Assistant…………………….Ravikumar (student)
Chendas…………………Kalamandalam Kesavan, Varanasi Madhavan Namboodiri
Maddalams………………Kalamandalam Narayanan Nair, Kalamandalam Ramdas
Music……………………..Kalamandalam Gangadharan, Kalanilayam Unnikrishnan, Rajendran, Divakaran, Krishnankutty Nambisan
Video 8 original (3 hours 6 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by Kottakkal Sasidharan Nair
B6 Kalyanasaughandikam (part)
By Kottayath Tamparan (1645-1716), a Kathakali story from The Mahabharata
Kerala Kalamandalam troupe, recorded in Paris in 1983 (i)
Bhima…………………………Kalamandalam Gopi
Draupadi…………………….Kalamandalam Krishnaprasad
Hanuman……………………Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair
Chenda……………………..Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan
Maddalam………………….Kalamandalam Narayanan Nair
Music…………………………Kalamandalam Gangadharan & Kalamandalam Subramanian
VHS original (1 hour 6 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by K.K Gopalakrishnan
B7 Kalyanasaughandikam Scene 3
By Kottayath Tamparan (1645-1716), a Kathakali story from The Mahabharata
Kalabharathi troupe, recorded at Pakalkuri in 1989 (ii)
Hanuman…………………Madavoor Vasudevan Nair
Bhima…………………….Kalabharathi Rajan
Chenda…………………..Ayamkudi Kuttapan Marar
Maddalam………………….Kalanilayam Rajan
Music………………………..Kalamandalam Gangadharan, Kalamandalam Surendran
Video 8 original (1 hour 23 minutes)
B8 Kichakavadham
By Irayimman Tampi (1783-1856), a Kathakali story from The Mahabharata
Kalabharathi troupe, recorded at Pakalkuri in 1989 (ii)
Kichaka…………………..Madavoor Vasudevan Nair
Sudeshna…………………..Clappana Reshmi Prabhakaran
Malini…………………….Kalamandalam Rajasekharan
Valala…………………….Kalabharathi Devadas
Chenda…………………..Ayamkudi Kuttapan Marar
Maddalam………………….Kalanilayam Rajan
Music………………………..Kalamandalam Gangadharan, Kalamandalam Surendran
Video 8 original (2 hours 23 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by Kottakkal Sasidharan Nair
B9 Lavanasuravadham
By Palakkatt Amritta Sastry (1815-1877), a Kathakali story from The Ramayana
Kerala Kalamandalam troupe, recorded in Paris in 1983 (i)
Sita………………………..Kalamandalam Rajasekharan
Kusa………………………Kalamandalam M.P.Sankaran Namboodiri
Lava………………………Kalamandalam Balasubramanian
Satrughna………………..Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharoty
Hanuman…………………Kalamandalam Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri
Chenda……………………..Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan
Maddalam………………….Kalamandalam Narayanan Nair
Music…………………………Kalamandalam Gangadharan & Kalamandalam Subramanian
VHS original (46 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by K.K Gopalakrishnan
B10 Nala Charitam – First Day
By Unnayi Varier (1675-1716), a Kathakali play
Kalabharathi troupe, recorded at Pakalkuri in 1989 (ii)
Nala………………………Kalabharathi Devadas
Hamsa……………………Madavoor Vasudevan Nair
Damayanti’s friends……Vasudevan, Clappana Reshmi Prabhakaran
Narada……………………Kalabharathi Rajan
Damayanti……………….Kalamandalam Rajasekharan
Chenda…………………..Ayamudi Kuttapan Marar
Maddalam………………….Kalanilayam Rajan
Music……………………..Kalamandalam Gangadhharan, Kalamandalam Surendran
Video 8 original (2 hours 41 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by Kottakkal Sasidharan Nair
B11 Narakasuravadham Sc 3-4
By Karthika Tirunal (1724-1798), a Kathakali story from The Bhagavata Purana
Kerala Kalamandalam troupe, recorded in Paris in 1983 (i)
Narakasura (Katti………..Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair
Nakratundi………………….Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharoty
Lalita………………………….Kalamandalam Rajasekharan
Jayanta………………………Kalamandalam Gopi
Narakasura’s wife……….Kalamandalam Krishnaprasad
Indra………………………….Kalamandalam M.P.Sankaran Namboodiri
Krishna…………………..Kalamandalam Balasubramanian
Garuda…………………..Kalamandalam Soman
Satyabhama…………….Kalamandalam Krishnaprasad
Narakasura 2……………..Kalamandalam Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri
Chenda……………………..Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval
Maddalam………………….Kalamandalam Appukutty Poduval
Music…………………………Kalamandalam Gangadharan & Kalamandalam Subramanian
VHS original……………….(56 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by K.K Gopalakrishnan
B12 Narakasuravadham Sc 2-6
By Karthika Tirunal (1724-1798), a Kathakali story from The Bhagavata Purana
Kalabharathi troupe, recorded at Pakalkuri in 1989 (ii)
Narakasura…………………Madavoor Vasudevan Nair
Narakasura’s wife……….Kalamandalam Rajasekharan
Indra………………………….Kalabharathi Harikumar
Chenda……………………..Ayamudi Kuttapan Nair
Maddalam………………….Kalanilayam Rajan
Music……………………..Kalamandalam Gangadharan, Kalamandalam Surendran
Video 8 original (2 hours 14 minutes)
B13 Pattabhishekam
A Kathakali story from The Ramayana
Kerala Kalamandalam troupe, recorded in Paris in 1983 (i)
Bharata………………………Kalamandalam M.P.Sankaran Namboodiri
Satrugna…………………….Kalamandalam Krishnaprasad
Hanuman…………………Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair
Rama……………………..Kalamandalam Gopi
Sita………………………..Kalamandalam Rajasekharan
Lakshmana………………Kalamandalam Balasubramanian
Vashista………………….Kalamandalam Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri
Sugriva…………………..Kalamandalam V.M. Karunakaran
Guha……………………..Kalamandalam Soman
Sumitra…………………..Eva Szily
Chenda………………….Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan
Maddalam……………….Kalamandalam Narayanan Nair
Music……………………..Kalamandalam Gangadharan & Madambi Subramanian Namboodiri
VHS original (35 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by K.K Gopalakrishnan
B14 Rajasooyam
By Karthika Tirunal (1724-1798), a Kathakali story from The Mahabhahata
Kalabharathi troupe, recorded at Pakalkuri in 1989 (ii)
Jarasandha…………………Madavoor Vasudevan Nair
Jarasandha’s wife……….Vasudevan
Brahmin (Krishna)……….Kalamandalam Rajasekharan
Brahmin (Arjuna)………..Kalabharathi Rajan
Brahmin (Bhima)………..Clappana Kiran Prabhakaran
Krishna…………………..Kalabharathi Harikumar
Arjuna…………………….Jayakumar
Bhima…………………….Kalamandalam Balakrishnan
Chenda…………………..Varanasi Madhavan Namboodiri, Ayamkudi Kuttapan Marar
Maddalam………………….Kalanilayam Rajan
Music……………………..Kalamandalam Gangadharan, Kalamandalam Surendran
Video 8 original (2 hours 26 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by Kottakkal Sasidharan Nair
B15 Ravanavijayam
By Kilimanoor Raja Raja Varma (Cherunni) Koyil Tampuran (1812-1846), a Kathakali story from The Ramayana
Recorded in the Kerala Kalamandalam in 1991 (iii)
Ravana…………………..Kottakkal Chandrasekharan
Doota…………………….Kalamandalam Sivadasan
Rambha………………….Kalamandalam Kesavan Namboodiri
Chenda……………………..Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan
Maddalams………………Kalamandalam Gopikuttan, Kutty Narayanan
Music………………………..Kalanilyam Unnikrishnan, Narayanan Namboodiri
Video 8 original (1 hours 54 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by Kottakkal Sasidharan Nair
B16 Sundariswayamvaram
By Kunnathu Subrahmanyan Potti, a Kathakali Story from The Mahabharata
Kalabharathi troupe, recorded at Pakalkuri in 1989 (ii)
Ghatolkacha……………..Madavoor Vasudevan Nair
Abhimanyu……………….Kalabharathi Rajan
Hidimbi……………………Kalabharathi Devadas
Irawan…………………….Kalamandalam Balakrishnan
Chenda…………………..Ayamkudi Kuttapan Marar
Maddalam………………….Kalanilayam Rajan
Music……………………..Kalamandalam Gangadharan, Kalamandalam Surendran
Video 8 original (2 hours 5 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by Kottakkal Sasidharan Nair
B17 Toranayudham
By Kottarakkara Tampuran (1555-1605), a Kathakali story from The Ramayana
Kerala Kalamandalam troupe, recorded in Paris in 1983 (i)
Hanuman……………………Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair
Lankalakshmi (Kari)…….Kalamandalam Soman
Lankalakshmi (Min)…….Eva Szily
Sita……………………….Kalamandalam Rajasekharan
Ravana…………………..Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharoty
Mandodari……………….Eva Szily
Prahasta…………………Kalamandalam Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri
Chenda………………….Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval
Maddalam……………….Kalamandalam Appukutty Poduval
Music………………………..Kalamandalam Ganghadaran & Madambi Subramanian Namboodiri
VHS original (1 hour 27 minutes)
Also available with English Commentary by K.K Gopalakrishnan
Total playing time of Kathakali Plays: 31 hours 12 minutes