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 Jayaprabha Menon celebrates Nrityotsav - Vinu Vasudevan e-mail: vinuvasu73@gmail.com Photos: Raneesh Raveendran May 27, 2024 The journey was not that easy for a Mohiniattam artiste like Jayaprabha Menon, from her hometown Calicut to the Capital city New Delhi almost two decades ago. It was her confidence within and the systematic training which she had received that motivated her to become a dancer and a teacher. "When I reached Delhi in 2002 with ten years of experience in performing Mohiniattam and teaching, nobody was there to help me that time. I then found a job in a school as art teacher," Jayaprabha recollected. "After working there for several months as art teacher, I started teaching dance to some girls. That marked the beginning of my new life," she added. Jayaprabha's hard working nature and energetic character paved a new path in her artistic career. From then on, there was no looking back for her. She created a new wave in the art arena in the capital and helped popularize Mohiniattam, which was a less known art for the people there.  Jayaprabha Menon Her initiation into dance happened at the very early age of four. Kalamandalam Saraswathi, a well-known figure in dance, was her first Guru. Though it was only an 'ordinary dance class' in the beginning, little Jaya's passion and interest in the dance took her to great heights. Her smartness and quick learning capacities urged the teacher to train her in a proper system. Jayaprabha learned Mohiniattam under Saraswathi for eighteen years. During this period she performed in all famous dance festivals and established herself as a young, promising dancer among the rasikas. Jayaprabha had trained in Bharatanatyam under Guru C V Chandrasekhar for almost three years while he was working in Baroda. This was a rare opportunity as far as a Mohiniattam dancer from Kerala was concerned. "Actually, it was Chandru sir who told me to learn Bharatanatyam under him. It was an amazing experience for me. That time Sir was in his peak both as a dancer and a teacher. His vision on dance really motivated me," Jayaprabha said. But the real turning point in her dance career was after her meeting with Bharati Shivaji, a virtuoso of Mohiniattam, that she decided to fully focus on Mohiniattam. From there onwards, Jayaprabha started training under Bharati Shivaji. That is another milestone in her life. Learning a lot in life and art from a legendary dancer, travelling with her and living with her, totally changed Jaya both in art and life. Her eventful journey of Mohiniattam blossomed after that. She became a vital part of the cultural scenario of Delhi very soon and founded a dance institution named 'International Academy of Mohiniattam' in 2009. In this dance center, a lot of aspiring students got trained and it is still going good. The Delhi life played a vital role in grooming her career and that was the only thing behind her success as an artiste and a choreographer. Her association with masters in other art forms such as Pt Birju Maharaj, Sonal Mansingh, and Sadhana Paranji in their dance productions was well received by the art enthusiasts of the capital. It was Kavalam Narayana Panicker, poet, lyricist and art academician, who influenced her vision in dance with his famous 'Sopana' style of music for Mohiniattam. Jayaprabha followed that style and performed many of his works with Kerala traditional rhythms. Some of her best dance choreography got staged that time.   Jayaprabha Menon's students Jayaprabha Menon's dance institute celebrated Nrityotsav 2024, its crystal year with a two day dance festival at the capital city recently. The students of the academy presented various items in Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam. Mohiniattam presentations were the main attraction of the first day. Some group and solo performances were performed by the upcoming students. Among them, Kavalam Narayana Panicker's famous "Karu kare Karmukil" was the highlight. Some senior students of the academy presented this item with great discipline in movements and rhythm. Another notable performance was that of Swati Thirunal's famous padam "Kanthanodu chennu melle..." which was performed by Krishnapriya Nair in solo format. It was the pick of the evening undoubtedly. This kriti was set in Neelambari and roopaka talam. In this kriti, the protagonist is a virahotkhanditha nayika who requests her friend to go to her beloved Krishna and with sweet bird like voice, tell him about her sufferings in separation from the Lord. The emotions which she delivered were perfectly blended with the lyrical beauty.  Sunitha Madhusoodanan Another solo performance was that of "Omanathinkal kidavo," a very popular lullaby by Irayimman Thampi, the court poet of Swati Thirunal. This item was performed by Sunitha Madhusoodanan, a senior disciple of Jayaprabha Menon. In this, the mother compares her baby with the beauty of the moon and its soothing light, to the beauty of lotus flower and honey filled inside the flower, to the voice of parrots, his movements with the dance of peacock, his jump as the jump of a baby deer. The day's dance performance concluded with a Manjuthara Ashtapadi by almost all the senior dancers in slow tempo. This final item was a unique one among the performances.  Ameya Baburam  Shreya Rajan and Vishnumaya Second day featured Bharatanatyam, where several young students presented some beautiful pieces. The performance included the traditional invocation to Ganapathi, Alarippu, Varnam and Paras Thillana. Among that, "Edathu padam thooki.." by Ameya Baburam was notable. It is an item in praise of Lord Nataraja, depicting him dancing with his left foot raised. Aiswarya Ashokan presented a beautiful item "Bhajitha Murali," a well-known kriti by Swati Thirunal. The melodious tune of Krishna's flute touches our soul. It illuminates the spirit of nature and its creatures. It synchronizes with the beautiful Jamuna river. The dance piece is dedicated to Lord Krishna. All the young dancers presented their best efforts to make the festival a grand one. Radhika Menon, the daughter/disciple of Jayaprabha Menon, performed on the initial day, adding her contribution to her mother's attempts to promote art.  Vinu Vasudevan is a freelance journalist, art critic and a documentary maker. He has worked in a number of television channels between 1996 to 2013. Presently he is working as the Faculty of Journalism in Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed University for Art and Culture for their Post Graduate programs. He is also a regular writer in 'The Hindu', 'The India Art Review' and leading Malayalam publications. |
