By our Art Correspondent
Thrissur, March 22 (IVC) It was quite strange to come to the baseless conclusion that the reported statement of Kalamandalam Satyabhama pertained to Mohiniyattam artiste R L V Ramakrishnan.
It is time to contemplate whether the reported statement of Satyabhama was worth making such a hue and cry for her apology.
Satyabhama simply quoted the principles of ‘Natyashastra’ , an ancient Indian text on performing arts. She had reportedly told a social media channel recently that Mohiniyattam was traditionally best performed by artistes with “fanciable looks and pale skin tones”. She also quoted that persons who “resemble crows and are resented by their mothers for their looks”had no place in the classical dance.
There was a hue and cry for her withdrawing the reported statement and tendering her apology in this regard. The question arose here is that “does Satyabhama have the freedom for expressing her opinion as others, without hurting anybody?”
What Satyabhama has done was exposing a reality existing in the classical arts performing especially in the mohiniyattam. She had not mentioned anybody’s name in her statement to the social media channel. All the political parties –Ruling LDF, Opposition UDF and BJP- with equal force condemned Satyabhama’s controversial statement on the flimsy and flippant grounds that it promoted casteism in the classical arts.
It was appropriate for the authorities to make good of the classical arts. The demand for her apology is tantamount to making a mountain out of a molehill. One can understand the logic of the political parties condemning the statement and demanding apology as it is election time. One is at a loss to understand the remarks of the Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed university’s Vice-Chancellor , B Ananthakrishnan who said that it is a black mark for the institution. It is good that Satyabhama has shown enough courage to stick to her statement, what may come, and not to tender apology in this regard . It is our immature thinking that led to condemning of Satyabhamas statement of fact without any grounds for it. It is also our inability to imbibe criticism to the least degree , according to artists who pleaded for anonymity.
They also quoted the late Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru as saying to the noted cartoonist and editor of “Shanker’s Weekly” “ to make cartoons about me also”. That was the signs of maturity and tolerance of our erstwhile leaders and the country had its advantages also.
