Dance like the graceful Mohini Devi : Mohiniyattam

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The first reference to Mohiniyattam is in Vyavaharamala composed by

Mayamangalam Narayanan Namboodri in 1709 A.D. It mentions rules to be

observed regarding fees of artistes to be shared during a

performance. Maharaja Kartika Tirunal Balarama Varma, author of

Balarama Bharatam (1758-1798) said that the book had been written

after a careful study of Lasya Tantra ( the style of the lasya

dance). Travancore palace records reveal that even as early as 1801,

the palace was incurring expenditure on Mohiniyattam. We also get an

idea of the popularity of Mohiniyattam from the works of Kunchan

Nambiar, who in his Ghoshayatra mentions Mohiniyattam in passing.

There is also a reference to Mohini natana in the great treatise on

the regional art forms of Kerala, Balarama Bharatam.

 

A major landmark in the evolution of Mohiniyattam was the reign of

Maharaja Swathi Tirunal in the 19th century. A great connoisseur of

music, Mohiniyattam received a considerable amount of royal patronage

during this period. With an attempt to embellish Mohiniyattam, Swathi

Tirunal composed several compositions, enriching its musical aspect.

Mohiniyattam got a further impetus when he invited the Tanjore

Quartet to improve upon the technique of the dance form. He also

persuaded Irayaman Thampi, well-known poet and musicologist in his

court to compose pieces for Mohiniyattam.

 

With his vast knowledge of the arts along with the assistance and

influence of the Tanjore Quartet and dancers like Sugandhavalli among

others from Tamil Nadu, Tirunal possibly enhanced whatever form of

Mohiniyattam was prevalent at that time. But the untimely demise of

the Maharaja proved to be a huge setback for this dance form.

Just as every art form experiences its phases of revival and neglect,

Mohiniyattam too emerged from an eclipsed state. The early years of

the 20th century saw the Renaissance of all the classical dance-

traditions of India. It was during this time that Rukmini Devi

Arundale, the founder of Kalakshetra gave Bharatanatyam its present

name, changing it from Sadir.

 

Meanwhile, a parallel cultural revival was taking place in Kerala and

in 1935, the great poet, Vallathol Narayana Menon established

Kalamandalam to revive and popularise Mohiniyattam, besides the other

major art forms of Kerala like Koodiyattam and Kathakali.

Due to concerted efforts of dance researchers and the performers

themselves, Mohiniyattam is today acknowledged as one on the most

prominent dance forms of India. It has also found international

recognition.

 

Courtesy of Indianprofile.com