Anger Management Part II

Friends Thought we will continue with anger for one more day to share an interesting response from an esteemed reader M G Warrier Anger Management Part II A Response from Vathsala Jayaraman, Chennai : On reading the mail on anger(September 28), I am reminded of Poet Bharathi. "Roudram Pazhagu" is a powerful Tamil phrase coined by the legendary revolutionary poet Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar in his work Puthiya Aathichoodi. It translates directly to "Practice righteous anger" or "Learn to channel fury." Instead of viewing anger as a negative trait or a personal weakness, Bharathiyar reframed it as a necessary social skill. The core philosophies of Roudram Pazhagu : Anger Against Injustice : Roudram does not mean petty rage or personal vendettas. It refers to a deep, moral indignation and a refusal to remain silent when witnessing social evils, oppression, or discrimination. A Call to Action on: The phrase urges individuals to act instead of merely observing from the sidelines. It challenges cowardice and passivity in the face of societal wrongs. Energy Transmutation : Rather than bursting out destructively, the philosophy advises absorbing that intense emotional fire and converting it into controlled, constructive action to drive real change. B Anger on Stage Kathakali (A traditional stage art form from Kerala) and portrayal of anger : In Kathakali, Raudram (the emotion of intense anger, fury, or ferocity) is one of the foundational Navarasams (9 core emotions). While many demonic or villainous characters frequently exhibit anger, Kathakali specifically differentiates between inherently evil characters and noble characters who manifest a temporary, ultra-furious avatar known as a Raudra Rupam. The primary characters associated with Raudram in Kathakali include : 1. The Transformed Heroic Characters (Raudra Rupam) These are noble, virtuous characters (Satvik or Pacha types) who temporarily discard their calm demeanor and transition into a state of absolute fury to destroy evil. Raudra Bheeman: This is the ultimate manifestation of Raudram in Kathakali. In the play Duryodhana Vadham, the epic hero Bhima becomes so consumed by fury while slaying Dushasana that his face and performance embody pure ferocity. To reflect this transformation, the actor changes into specialized, terrifying makeup—tearing open Dushasana's chest, mimicking the drinking of his blood, and tying Draupadi’s hair in a state of high spiritual and physical frenzy. 2. The Chuvanna Thaadi (Red Beard) Characters The Chuvan a Thaadi (Red Beard) characters are inherently destructive, malicious, and aggressive. They represent the Tamasik or fully evil forces, and their default performance mode is rooted in Raudram. Dushasana: The primary antagonist alongside Duryodhana, famously depicted with a red beard, roaring aggressively on stage. Bak असुर (Bakasura) & Jarasandha : Legendary aggressive kings and demons who excel in terrifying, rage-driven battle sequences. Veerabhadra : A ferocious deity spawned from Lord Shiva's wrath, embodying divine, catastrophic anger. 3. The Kathi (Knife) Characters Characters under the Kathi category represent anti-heroes who are highly educated, powerful warriors but are deeply flawed by arrogance, lust, and wrath. They frequently use the Raudra rasam during high-conflict scenes: Ravana and Duryodhana : While they have regular sequences displaying grandeur or love, their signature battle sequences and defiance of the gods are portrayed with intense Raudram. 4. Special Wrathful Figures Ninam Characters: Ninam literally translates to "blood." These are intensely localized, terrifying forms of characters (often wounded or mutilated demons/demonesses like Surpanakha or Simbika) covered in red fluid, acting out raw, horrific rage and agony on stage.