Impressions, Kerala Tourism

Ms.Isa Jacobi on a scholarship from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations is undergoing training in Kathakali for the last three years at Margi, Thiruvananthapuram.It is now almost six years since she started training in Kathakali.Ms.Isa felt an instant liking for Kathakali, when she witnessed a Kathakali performance during a theatre festival back in 1978 in Italy.

Hailing from Berlin in Germany, Ms.Isa Jacobi is currently being trained by Mr.Kalamandalam Balasubramanian.She is also involved in theatres back home in Germany.Sharing her thoughts with us on her future plans, Ms.Isa is looking forward to have a harmonious confluence of her theatre activities in Germany with that of her current passion; Kathakali.

At Margi, she is at ease with the whole ambiance at Margi and also with the artistes there.As part of her training, Ms.Isa is already into handling some of the difficult characters as well as trying her hand at expressions that demand great involvement and dedication at the highest level.

Besides training in Kathakali, she has also plans to learn Sanskrit language, which she believes would enable her to have a better understanding of the Kathakali songs, which are rendered during the enactment of a Kathakali story.Ms.Isa Jacobi has already performed in few plays before audiences in Thiruvananthapuram as well in her native place ? Germany.

In the long run, she foresees a balancing act that would keep her for some time in Kerala and also in Germany until she strikes a stable chord and settle down.May be in Kerala; but not sure as of now, says Ms.Isa.

Apart being involved in Kathakali training, Ms.Isa also found time to move around and explore parts of Kerala.She recalls some of her pleasure trips inside Kerala, especially to the hilly tracts in Kumili and also to the backwaters in Alappuzha district.

In attire and demeanor, Ms.Isa has transformed comfortably to be part of the Kerala society and with her focus on Kathakali, she could well become one of Kerala's authoritative spokesperson for Kathakali back in Germany as well as in other parts of the world.