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Sopana Sangeetham is a form ofIndian classical music that developed in the temples ofKerala in southIndia in the wake of the increasing popularity ofJayadeva'sGita Govinda orAshtapadis.[1]
The name derives from twoMalayalam orSanskrit words: Sopanam and Sangeetham. The wordSopanam refers to the sacred steps of main shrine of a temple andSangeetham refers to music.[citation needed]
Sopana sangeetham (music), as the very name suggests, is sung by the side of the holy steps (sopanam) leading to the sanctum sanctorum of a shrine. It is sung, typically employing plain notes, to the accompaniment of the small, hourglass-shaped ethnic drum called 'edakka' oridakka, besides thechengila or the handy metallic gong to sound the beats. Sopanam is traditionally sung by men of theMaarar andPothuval castes ofAmbalavasi (semi-Brahmin) community, engaged to do it as their hereditary profession.[2]
The lateNjeralattu Rama Poduval of Thirumandhamkunnubani,Janardhanan Nedungadi of Guruvayoor, Sri Jyothidas Guruvayoordasan,Damodara Marar, a practitioner of the temple art calledMudiyettu, from Pazhoor andSadanam Divakara Marar, master percussionist.[3]
Sopanasangeetham has a special fan base and is widely performed in the region between Eranakulam to Kozhikkode. This area is fertile of many experienced and junior sopanasangeetham artists.Ambalappuzha Vijayakumar and Eloor Biju is considered as the most leading artists of present time.Ayilur Akhil Marar,𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗦𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘂𝘃𝗮𝗹, 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗴𝗼𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗿, are famous maestro in this area. Junior upcoming artists like Mankunnam Harikesan Namboothiri, Mankunnam Harigovind Namboothiri, Adithyan Marar, Sadanam Aswin Murali, etc also have greater fan base.
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