Sopana Sangeetham set to make history

GURUVAYUR: Making the first foray of a female into an arena ruled by the males so far, Nina Soman of Puvathur will start singing of Sopana Sangeetham (Ashtapadi) at the Ayyappan Kaavu temple at Puvathur near Pavaratty in Thrissur soon.

The temple authorities have allowed Nina Soman, 10th standard student of the Vidya Vihar Central School at Kakkassery, to sing ‘Ashtapadi’ at the temple. "At present the Ayyappan Kaavu temple does not have a Marar for offering ‘Kottippaadi Seva’ during the poojas. Hence, Nina’s initiative is a blessing in disguise for us,” said temple Trust secretary Manikandan Thekkoottayil.

“Even our scriptures say that a person becomes a Kazhaka through his deeds and life-style than by birth,’’ said temple Trust president Suresh Themath.

“Nina is a devotee of Lord Ayyappa for the last 10 years and she had sung classical bhajans on several occasions at the temple. When Nina expressed her wish to sing in front of the sanctum sanctorum, why should we object?,’’ asked Manikandan Thekkoottayil.

She will start singing at the Sopanam of the Ayyappan Kaavu temple after her debut (arangettam) at the Melpathur auditorium of the Sree Krishna temple here at 9 am on Sunday.

Her efforts to master Ashtapadi singing in a short span of time and her rendition of it in the ‘Guruvayur style’ (Janardanan Nedungadi style) were brilliant,’’ said her Guru Guruvayur Jyothidas.

A regular winner in classical music at the school youth festivals, Nina gives all credit for her achievement to Jyothidas who is a music teacher of the Guruvayur Devaswom Vadya Vidyalaya.

Daughter of Somasundaran and Rajalakshmi of Puvathur, Nina is confident in moving ahead with the Ashtapadi singing at the Ayyappan Kaavu temple.

“The shruti alignment of my Guru’s recital, clarity of diction, raga bhava and the rendition that puts emphasis on the meaning of the verses are thrilling,’’ Nina told Express.