Thiruvananthapuram: Margi Sathi pursued Koodiyattam and Nangiarkoothu with vigour and passion despite a series of personal tragedies off the stage. The classical art forms of Kerala have lost a global ambassador with her demise.
Sathi was a natural choice for Shashi Paravur when he planned a Malayalam movie centred on Nangiarkoothu. Sathi's husband Subramanian Potti persuaded her to take up the offer.
Sathi was forced to take a break when her father Subramanian Embranthiri passed away just before the shooting of 'Nottam' was to start. There was more grief in store for the artiste. Her husband, a reputed edakka player, was electrocuted while tempering the mizhavu, another percussion instrument associated with the dance form. The couple were rehearsing for the movie at the Margi Kala Kendra in Thiruvananthapuram.
Sathi was shattered. She had lost the man behind her success and the source of her inspiration.
Her father-in-law Narayanan Potti convinced her that he should finish the 'Nottam' project because it was his son's wish. Sathi obliged. The shooting was resumed. But the tragic times were not over yet. Narayanan Potti died within a few days. Sathi steeled herself and completed the movie, which became a testimony to her dedication to art.
Sathi made her foray into the world of Koodiyattam at the age of 11. She was trained by the legendary Painkulam Rama Chakiar, Mani Madhava Chakiar and Ammannur Madhava Chakiar. After eight years of rigorous training, she got married and settled in Thiruvananthapuram. She joined D. Appukkuttan Nair and Dr K. Ayyappa Panicker in efforts to rejuvenate Koodiyattam at Margi. She remained a student, learning Nangiarkoothu under the tutelage of Padma Sri P K Nambiar.
Sathi was invited to perform Koodiyattam at the Unesco headquarters in Paris in 2001 on the occasion of granting the art form a world classical art form tag. She was appointed as a Koodiyattam trainer at the Kerala Kalamandalam in 2005.
Sathi has written several Nangiarkoothu works such as Sreeramacharitam, Bhakta Meera and Seethayanam. She has received several awards including Kaladarppanam, Natyaratna and Thunchan Smaraka Puraskaram.
Her artistic legacy is carried forward by daughter Revathi and son Devanarayanan.