Garuda Garva Bhangam - Excerpt 6

The sixth excerpt from Garuda Garva Bhangam, an Ottan Thullal play is presented here. Garuda gets angry over Hanuman abusing his master Lord Krishna. He mocks monkeys and threatens Hanuman. ‘You bite and tear fruits…eat to the stomach full…and climb on trees…baring teeth and gallivanting around…you belong to the thieving pack of monkeys..and how come you abuse my Lord…I will thrash you,’ says Garuda.

Story
Lord Krishna, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, decides to humble the arrogance of his carrier Garuda, the King of birds. He commands Garuda to bring Hanuman, the monkey god and ace warrior. Hanuman is a devotee of Lord Rama, another incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He resides in the Kadali Groves, constantly chanting the name of his master. When Garuda calls out to him, Hanuman realizes Krishna’s aim. He tells Garuda that he cannot accompany him, as he has no respect for Krishna. An angry Garuda challenges Hanuman to a duel and in the end receives a humiliating defeat.

Artiste
Performing here is Kalamandalam Geethanandan, a master Thullal artiste. At present, he is the Head of the Department of Thullal at Kerala Kalamandalam, the premiere training centre for Kerala’s classical arts.