Platform Structure in Silappathikaram

PLATFORM STRUCTURE IN SILAPPATHIKARAM

About 2000 years ago, Elango Adigal has given a very detailed account of the setting up of the theatre.

Madhavi had a curly hair. At the age of five, she performed the ritual of learning to dance and learned the art till the age of 7. At the age of 12, she came to the Chola Court to stage her dance.

1. Platform Structure

1. Space for the Arenas

They chose a suitable land according to the unchanging nature suggested by a learned sculpture writer, for the stage for dancing.

2. Fetching Bamboo

On the high sacred hills like Pothigai Hill, among the tall bamboos, they cut down a single bamboo and used it to build a dance stage.

3. Bamboo Scale

According to the information given in books, a piece of bamboo was made into a 'stick' measuring 24 (about 4 feet) in the thumb of a well-grown average man. They built a dance stage of 7 Kols (28 feet) wide, 8 Kols (32 feet) long and one Kol (4 feet) high.

4. Installation of the Upper Board

Pillars were erected on the four sides of the platform and an upper board was fixed on them. A board was also installed on the floor of the arena. Between these two boards they placed a space of four Kols (16 feet) high.

5. Entrance to the Arena

They arranged two entrances for the performers to enter as well as to exit on the top floor of the arena. They painted images of the four types of Varuna Bhudaas for everyone to worship.

6. Installation of Entrance Lights

They placed illuminant lamps so that the shadow of the pillars did not fall on the stage and the hall.

7. Ezhinigal (or) Screens

The screens are of three kinds.

(i) One Side Pulling Screen

A curtain that is set up so that it is drawn on one side of the stage is called a single curtain.

(ii) Porumuga Ezhini

A screen that overlaps in the middle so that it can be pulled from either side of the stage is called Porumuga Ezhini.

(iii) Karanthuvaral Ezhini

A screen that descends when needed from the top of the platform is called Karanthuvaral Ezhini.

The above mentioned three types of curtains were arranged nicely.

Three Types of Curtains : 1. One Side Pulling 2. Porumuga Ezhini 3. Karanthuvaral

8. Canopy and Festoons

They also erected a canopy with paintings. All over the stage, the famous pearl garlands like Sari, Thooku and Thamam were hung beautifully.

They built a dance hall with such artistic works.

2. Thalaikol (Degree for the Students of Drama)

The women who performs well in the dance are given the titles 'Thalaikols'. Thalaikol was made from the hammock of a beautiful silver umbrella taken from him in a battle with a rival king of great renown, who had been defeated.