AN INTRODUCTION TO MOHINIYATTOM


Artists: Lakshmi Unnikrishnan &
Praveena Prabhakar

Mohiniyattom, the soft and serene classical dance of Kerala has achieved its classical status during its evolution through the last five decades. Having evolved from the dance styles of the Devadasis of the lore, it had its shortcomings. The lyrical components and acting modes involved too much oh humanistic realism. Such practices led to the decadence of the art as such. These were rectified by the late Maha Rajah Swathitirunal of Travancore. He was a great ruler, an artist and a social reformer. Later, the great poet Vallathol Narayana Menon brought Mohiniyattom to Kerala Kalamandalam and nurtured it with the assistance of the great teachers and connoisseurs.

The traditional repertoire has, Cholkkettu, Jatiswram, Varnam, Padam, Slokam & Tillana
Similar to the one practiced by the schools of Bharathanatyam. According to late Smt. Kalyanikkutty Amma there is a seventh one called 'Saptham'.

Mohiniyattom is known for its slow pace and aesthetically beautiful curvaceous movements of the torso. Centered around the cult of devotion, the lyrical contents were mostly based on the hero-heroine relationship, in which the heroine always sought for the proximity of her dear one, the lord himself. Very simple yet captivating traditional costumes are used. The music is fundamentally based on the classical style. The last two decades saw dynamic revival and daring experimentation in Mohiniyattom. Compositions by the recent poets and subjects of contemporary relevance have been successfully tried out. Group choreographic approach is welcomed by the exponents as well as the audience.