Dancer and philanthropist
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Kalamandalam Radhika was selected for the Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Akademi Award for Mohiniyattom.
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`Ambassador of Mohiniyattom.'
FOR THE first time in the half-a-century history of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, its prestigious award for Mohiniyattom has gone to a non-resident Keralite this year - Kalamandalam Radhika. Born and brought up in Bangalore, Dr. Radhika is well known for her efforts to popularise Mohiniyattom all over the world. This has earned her the sobriquet, `ambassador of Mohiniyattom.' Moreover, she is also a philanthropist, which makes her a role model in her fraternity. As of now, more than 15 indigent artistes receive a monthly honorarium of Rs. 500 each from `Nrithya Dhara,' a charitable trust she registered in Bangalore a few years ago.
Student days
Driven by an insatiable yen for the terpsichorean art, Radhika's father sent her to Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy when she was very young. She soon became the cynosure of all on the campus. The celebrities of those days - Chinnammu Amma, Kalamandalam Sathyabhama and Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair - took her under their wings and moulded her into a consummate performer.
But back at home, academics and prolonged illness prevented her from continuing in the field of dance. A stint as a teacher in a central school came as a blessing. It was dogged perseverance that transformed her into an outstanding performer, choreographer and researcher. Regular practice apart, nine years were spent in research, which fetched her a doctorate from Trinity College, London. Today she is the only danseuse who presents Mohiniyattom in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Tulu. Soon, she was attending workshops and lecture-demonstrations and giving performances all around the world.
"It was not mere name and fame that enthused me; I took it as a god-sent opportunity to save money to form a fund big enough to provide financial help to as many artistes as possible," Radhika explained the circumstances that led to the formation of Nrithya Dhara.
The late padhakam exponent Cherikkat Narayanan Namboodiri and the late Kathakali chutti artiste Vazhenkada Govindan Warrier were the first to receive a monthly honorarium from the Trust.
Traditional style
Radhika had her training in Mohiniyattom well before variegated schools of the dance form had emerged.
Therefore, her style is traditional and still represents the original lasya-rich dance form that Kalamandalam had developed during its formative years. Radhika, who has to her credit several seminal papers on Mohiniyattom in international publications, came out with a book, `Mohiniyattom, The Lyrical Dance of Kerala' last year.
Its includes, among others, the evolution of the dance form, especially its aaharya (costume and make-up) over the years.
G.S. Paul
Photo: K.K. Najeeb
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