The decision came at a time when the state has been witnessing a raging row over recent racist remarks made by a senior Mohiniyattam dancer against a fellow artist.
Mohiniyattam dancer Dr RLV Ramakrishnan. (X)
In a path-breaking move, Kerala Kalamandalam, a prestigious deemed-to-be university for art and culture, on Wednesday, 27 March, decided to admit students to its various courses regardless of their gender.
An executive meeting held on campus unanimously approved the decision, which will be implemented in the next academic year, the university registrar said in a statement.
With this decision, men, women, and transgenders can now enroll in all the courses offered by Kalamandalam, including classical dance forms such as “Mohiniyattam,” which had been strictly reserved for women until now, a Kalamandalam source said.
The executive meeting was attended by vice-chancellor B Ananthakrishnan and various dance exponents, including Kalamandalam Gopi, Kalamandalam Kshemavathi, Dr Neena Prasad and others.
The eminent institution took the historic decision at a time when the state has been witnessing a raging row over recent racist remarks made by a senior Mohiniyattam dancer against a fellow artist on a YouTube channel.
During the interview, Sathyabhama said, “The person who performs Mohiniyattam should be ‘Mohini’ (enchanting).”
She added: “He has the colour of a crow. This is an art form that requires a stance that keeps the legs wide apart. There is nothing more repulsive than a man who performs with his legs wide apart in this manner.”
The 66-year-old dancer was also heard saying in the interview, portions of which were telecast by news channels: “In my opinion, men should perform Mohiniyattam only if they are that good-looking… But his looks are unbearable.”
She also declared that “he” was not apt for the dance form Mohiniyattam. Sathyabhama, however, did not specify to whom she was referring.
As the video of the racial remarks by Sathyabhama, a Kalamandalam alumna, went viral on social media and was aired on news channels last week, noted Mohiniyattam dancer Dr RLV Ramakrishnan had alleged that her comments were directed at him, and threatened to initiate legal action against her.
The video and her subsequent statements defending what she had said were severely criticised by many on social media, cutting across political lines.
The Kerala Kalamandalam, a premier public institution that preserves Kerala’s artistic heritage, had also condemned Sathyabhama’s remarks.
Ramakrishnan performed “Mohiniyattam” at Kalamandalam on Tuesday, 26 March, after being invited by its student’s union.
Historic decision from Kerala Kalamandalam, a Deemed to be a University for the preservation and promotion of #Kerala’s traditional performing arts, as its administrative committee on Wednesday decided to open its gates to male aspirants who wish to learn #Mohiniyaattam.… pic.twitter.com/b8neysLqa7
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) March 27, 2024
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