|     |
|
| |
 Mesmerizing Mohiniyattam recital - Ananya Nair e-mail: ananyanair393@gmail.com Photo courtesy: IIC Delhi February 9, 2023 On 17th January 2023, India International Centre, Delhi, celebrated Double Bill Festival featuring soulful Hindustani music and a mesmerizing Mohiniyattam recital. Rohini Satheesh, a senior disciple at the International Academy of Mohiniyattam, presented an hour-long recital of Mohiniyattam. She was accompanied by her Guru Jayaprabha Menon, director of the International Academy of Mohiniyattam, and an ensemble of skilled musicians, with Kottakkal Jayan on vocal, Thanjavur R. Kesavan on mridangam, Satheesh Poduval on edakka and G. Raghuraman on flute. The recital began with Unni Ganapathy, an invocation to Lord Ganesha, where the Bhakta while performing pooja to the Lord finds him coming to life. Instead of materialistic wishes, she asks for a divine hug. Rohini plays mother to Ganesha and coaxes him for her wish, only to find out it was all a dream. Her motherly demeanour and graceful expressions crafted a beautiful image of the mother-son duo. The presentation was followed by Mukhachalam, where Mukha means face and Chalam means Chalanam or movements which depict the essences and characteristic movements of Mohiniyattam i.e., Chuzhippu, Andolika, and Atibhanga. These movements are choreographed in a garland-like pattern to the indigenous Sopana ragas and thalas of Kerala. Rohini's experience as a senior Mohiniyattam dancer was evident in her captivating stage presence and skilled lasya movements.  The program in its second half focused more on abhinaya with the presentation of ashtapadi and the culmination piece, a bhajan by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal. Ashtapadi Yahi Madhava Yahi Kesava, taken from Gita Govinda, describes Radha's hurt and betrayal by Krishna's negligence towards her. Questioning his love, she accuses him of spending the night with someone else and making her wait in agony. Even though deep down she has a selfless love for Krishna, she isn't ready to accept him over her self-respect. Rohini's emotions and her switch from a love-struck Radha to a woman who has been betrayed and hurt gives justice to the contrast to Radha's regular depiction wherein she speaks out against the wrong and does not submit to his cajoling as opposed to her devoted self. The performance concluded on a high note with an enthralling bhajan by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal in praise of Lord Padmanabha, who reigns over all three worlds. The bhakta describes all gods of the universe but eventually surrenders herself to Lord Padmanabha. Finally, expressing her gratitude towards her guru, musicians, and audience, Rohini ended her solo stage with Mangalam. Her decades long love for music and dance did not hinder her from taking on other responsibilities of career and motherhood. Rohini's solo show showed her passion for Mohiniyattam, loyalty towards her guru, and submission to the beauty of Indian classical culture.  Mohiniyattam dancer Ananya Nair is a second-year journalism student at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi. |
