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Tearful Adieu To Fr Abel : People from all walks of life paid their last respect to Fr. Abel [81] the founder president of Kalabhavan and the writer of lot of Malayalam Christian Songs, died after a cardiac arrest on October 26 at Thodupuzha, whose body was kept at Ernakulam Town Hall for the public to pay homage on October 28. Among those who came to pay their homage were Film Stars whom Fr. Abel had groomed at the Kalabhavan, Ministers and people from other walks of life. Wreaths were laid on behalf of different Christian denominations, NGOs, Offices and Business Establishments. People who were closely associated with Kalabhavan and whose future was shaped by the training given there in different art forms and cultural disciplines, bid tearful adieu to Fr. Abel. Many of the over 3,000 students who were undergoing coaching in different art forms at Kalabhavan came, some accompanied by their parents. Poignant songs rendered the air as people stood in queue to see the Cultural icon who had become so familiar to Kochites. "All my worldly responsibilities are over, now I will die in peace," Mr. K.S. Prasad, film director quoted Fr. Abel as saying a few days before his death. Belonging the CMI order Fr. Abel was the President of Kalabhavan Studios and founded the Kalabhavan Talent Residential School, Kakkanad. Born
in 1920 at Mulakulam village in the outskirts of the city, Fr. Abel, then
known as Mathew, was born to Mathen Vidyan and Aleyamma. He became well known
as the founder of Kalabhavan now located on 10 -cent plot near Ernakulam Town
Hall, the foundation stone for which was laid in September 1969. He worked
wonders on the talented youth in and around
Kochi. He immortalised Kalabhavan as a Cultural icon, contributing many
mimicry artistes to filmdom and theatre. He also effortlessly demolished the
caste- identification of art forms like Mohiniyattom, Kathakali and
Bhartanatyam, encouraging artistes from all communities to learn and master
the art forms. Fr. Abel's panacea for organising children and youth and credo
-"catch them young"- helped him establish the concept of Kalabhavan.
Hundreds of children fine-tune their skills in over 20 literary fields at
Kalabhavan. Kalabhavan
had its origins in Christian Arts Club, formed to compose devotional songs for
Church -choirs, but had attracted music masters like Mr. M.K. Arjunan and Mr.
Dakshnamurthy. The troupe was a new concept in sixties. Fr. Abel's
contribution on to the cultural scene in Kerala by training new comers to
become mimicry artistes and later enter the Silver Screen. Film stars Mr.
Jayaram and Mr. Kalabhavan Mani are some of his former students. The Labour
Minister, Mr. Babu Divakaran said that Fr. Abel's contribution to the cultural
scene in Kerala would be remembered for ever. | ||
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Dear visitors, If you know more about Fr Abel and his works, please write to us. Let us make a web site for his memory. Secretary, AMAR | ||
