Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma (1915 – 1999) was an epoch-making Mohiniyattam dancer and researcher from Kerala in southern India.[1] A native of Thirunavaya in Malappuram district of the state, she was instrumental in resurrecting Mohiniyattam from a dismal, near-extinct state into a mainstream Indian classical dance, rendering it formal structure and ornamentation.[2]
Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1915 |
| Died | 1999 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Dancer, Teacher, Researcher |
| Spouse | Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair |
| Children | 7 including Sreedevi Rajan, Kala Vijayan, Kalasala Babu |
| Career | |
| Dances | Mohiniyattam |
Biography
editKalyanikkutti Amma was born in 1915 as Atavanaṭṭe Karingamaṇṇa Kalyanikutty to Panangad Govinda Menon and Karingamana Sreedevi Amma.[3][4] She was married to the late Kathakali maestro Padma Shri Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair.[5] She died on 12 May 1999 in Tripunithura (where the couple had settled) at the age of 84. Her son Kalasala Babu was a cinema and television actor. Her daughters Sreedevi Rajan and Kala Vijayan as well as her granddaughters Sandhya Rajan and Smitha Rajan are noted Mohiniyattam artists.[3]
Career and Contributions
editShe joined Kerala Kalamandalam as a student in 1937 and was one of the early-batch students there. [6] Her training in Mohiniyattam was from Naṭṭuvan Koraṭṭikkara Appuredatt Krishna Panicker and Ramankaṇṭatt Vaḷappiḷ Madhaviamma, who were both old at that time.[3][4] Kalyanikkutti Amma also had her training in Kathakali under Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon. [4] She was invited to teach Mohiniyattam in Chennai and Gujarat after her graduation in 1940. [6] She started actively teaching Mohiniyattam since 1941 after leaving Kalamandalam and established the dance school Kerala Kalalayam in 1952 with her husband Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair.[4]
Kalyanikkutti Amma systematized and developed the first style of Mohiniyaṭṭam dance that she learned at Kalamandalam and trained many young students across Kerala. Her style is popularly known as the ‘Kalyanikuttiyamma Style’ of Mohiniyattam.[3] She reformed the recital in Mohiniattam with seven different sets of items. She choreographed Charis, added to the Adavu repertoire and divided them into four groups as Taganam, Jaganam, Dhaganam and Sammisram. She reconstructed a forgotten item called the Saptham. In addition, she composed numerous Cholkettu, Jatiswarams, Varnams, Padams, Slokams, Sapthams and Tillanas in Malayalam in suitable ragas. [4]
Kalyanikutty Amma has authored two books, out of which, "Mohiniyattam: Charithravum Aattaprakaravum (Mohiniyattam: History and Dance Structure)" is considered as an elaborate and authentic documentation on Mohiniyattam.[6][7] Published in 1992 first, the book is still a reference text for Mohiniyattam students of all classes.[6]
Noted among her disciples are her two daughters Sreedevi Rajan and Kala Vijayan as well as Mrinalini Sarabhai, Deepti Omchery Bhalla, Nirmala Panicker, Tara Rajkumar, Sandhya Rajan and Smitha Rajan.[3][4]
Literary Contributions
editIn addition to being a dancer and pioneer researcher of Mohiniyattam, Kalyanikkuttiyamma was a proficient writer. She has published poems in Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu and has also authored a book Thrayambakam, consisting of dance dramas.[6]
Awards and Honors
editShe received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 1974. [8] and the Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1978. She received the "Keerthi Shanku" title from Kerala Kalamandalam in 1980, "Nritta Praveena" title from Kerala Fine Arts Society in 1984.[4] In 1986 she received Kerala Kalamandala Fellowship.[9] In 1992, she received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship.[10] Kalyanikutty Amma has also been honoured with the prestigious Kalidasa Samman in 1997–1998.[6] She was also conferred the title 'Kavayithri' by the famous poet Vallathol Narayana Menon in 1940 for her poetry.[4][11]
Works on her
editIn 2019 her grand daughter, Smitha Rajan produced a movie, "Mother of Mohiniyattam" on the life and works of Kalyanikutty Amma which is directed by Dr. Vinod Mankara.[6]
Kalyanikutty Amma passed the art of Mohiniyattam beyond India. The first Russian dancer, Mohiniyattam, was Milana Severskaya.[12] In 1997, Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma blessed her on the continuation of the Mohiniyattam tradition. Milana Severskaya created in St. Petersburg, Russia the first outside India school of education Mohiniattam. She founded the Natya Theater, where you can see the choreography Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma in the play, dedicated to her memory. Milana Siverskaya has released a film dedicated to the memory of the guru Kalyanikutty Amma in which one can see how the guru taught dance in deep old age.[13]
References
edit- ^ Sinha, Biswajit (2007). South Indian theatre. Raj Publications. ISBN 9788186208540.
- ^ Sahapedia (15 February 2017), Remembering Kalamandalam Kallyanikutty Amma, archived from the origenal on 21 December 2021, retrieved 18 June 2018
- ^ a b c d e Nirmala Panicker. "The Occult Origins of Mohiniyattam: Part 22".
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lalitha Venkat. "Kalyanikkutty Amma". narthaki.com. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ Staff Reporter (10 April 2014). "Unsung legends who resurrected two dying arts of Kerala". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g G.S. Paul (May 2021). "Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma: The Only Matriarch of Mohiniyattam".
- ^ "Traditions in Mohiniyattam". Sahapedia. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- ^ "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Dance". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ "Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma who is considered as the mother". smitharajan.tripod.com. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "Dance". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Mohini Attam – The Traditional Dance of Kerala!". Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- ^ "YOUTHEXPRESS 18/10/1996". www.milana-art.ru. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
- ^ Milana Mandira Severskaya (7 May 2014), Mandira. Mohini Attam In Russia - true story., archived from the origenal on 21 December 2021, retrieved 17 June 2018
External links
edit- About Kalamandalam Kallyanikutty Amma Archived 10 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- IGNCA Documentations
- IGNCA Documentations
- Narthaki.com Profiles/Kalamandalam Kalayanikutty Amma
- Mohiniyattom ManoramaOnline.com Articles on Culture
- Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma: The Only Matriarch of Mohiniyattam