Senior Mohiniyattam dancer Kalamandalam Sathyabhama faced heavy criticism after making racist remarks against a fellow artiste during an interview with a YouTube channel on Thursday.
Renowned Mohiniyattam dancer Dr RLV Ramakrishnan alleged that Sathyabhama’s remakrs were about him and said that he would initiate legal action against her.
Though Sathyabama denied Ramakrishnan’s allegations and said that she did not name anyone specifically, her remarks stirred a major controversy in Kerala society.
“I have not taken any names in the interview. What I have said in the interview is my opinion, and I stand by that. I don’t have any regrets,” she said.
WHAT DID SATHYABHAMA SAY?
During the interview, Sathyabhama can be heard saying, “The person who performs Mohiniyattam should be ‘mohini’ (enchanting). He has the colour of a crow. This is an art form that requires a stance that keeps the legs wide apart. There is nothing more repulsive than a man who performs with his legs wide apart in this manner.”
“In my opinion, men should perform Mohiniyattam only if they are that good-looking… But his looks are unbearable,” she was quoted as saying by PTI.
She had even declared that the person was not ‘apt’ for the dance form of Mohiniyattam.
WHAT RAMAKRISHNAN SAID
Hailing from Chalakudy, Ramakrishnan is the brother of famous film actor late Kalabhavan Mani.
Taking to Facebook, Ramakrishnan said that the 66-year-old senior dance was continuing her racist abuse against him, alleging that he was not qualified to teach Mohiniyattam.
“I completed my studies at the renowned RLV college in Tripunithura. I am a first-rank holder in MA Mohiniyattam from MG University. I am a top scorer in MPhil and completed a PhD from Kalamandalam,” Ramakrishnan said.
He went on to say that this was not the first time that he faced “insults from her”. He said that due to such people, it is difficult for a person from a scheduled caste to survive in the field of classical dance.
“Legal action will be taken against such people,” he added.
KERALA HRC INITIATES CASE AGAINST SATHYABHAMA
The Kerala State Human Right Commission on Friday initiated a case against the 66-year-old Sathyabhama over her controversial racist remarks against a fellow artiste.
SHRC member VK Beena Kumar directed the Thrissur police chief and government’s Secretary of Culture to look into the dancer’s statement and submit a report within 15 days.
The action was taken by the Commission on its own based on media reports, it said, adding that a human rights activist Guinness Madasamy had also filed a complaint on the same issue.
POLITICIANS SUPPORT RAMAKRISHNAN
Support from several political leaders flooded in for Ramakrishnan following Sathyabhama’s remarks.
Ministers Saji Cheriyan, R Bindu, Veena George, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan, BJP state chief K Surendran, among others, condemned the statement.
Culture Minister Saji Cheriyan extended his support to Ramakrishnan and urged Sathyabhama to withdraw the statement and apologise.
He said that Kerala’s history records progressive moments that fought and achieved rights for the oppressed communities, adding that “Art knows no monopolies”.
“The remarks made by Sathyabhama are an insult to Kerala’s cultural ethos. People with such conservative mentalities have no right to use the name of such a respected institution along with their names. Alongside the insult regarding his (skin) colour, her words exhibited inherent casteism,” Cheriyan said.
Minister Bindu, meanwhile, hailed Ramakrishnan saying that he has rewritten the history of Mohiniyattam and liberated the art form of outdated values and feudal times.
Taking to X, Bindu said, “Shocked to hear a classical dance performer, who seems to be harbouring the rotting remnants of caste and colour-based discrimination, level such slanderous words against a creative genius like RLV Ramakrishnan. This is highly objectionable.”
BJP state chief K Surendran said that there is no distinction based on caste, colour, race, sex or financial status in art.
“Everyone in this field is above all this. And those who distinguish thus, no matter how great the throne of knowledge they may ascend, will remain ignorant. Don’t use pride and arrogance to insult others. With RLV Ramakrishnan,” Surendran said in a post on social media.
Sathyabhama’s remarks are an insult to Kerala society itself, said Minister George.
Leader of Opposition Satheesan also expressed solidarity with Ramakrishnan and said, “Art is important, not colour. Art is the union of humility and compassion. Art and culture die when one is insulted on the basis of colour and caste.”
Congress leader and Chalakudy MLA Saneesh Kumar Joseph led a protest march in Chalakudy town against Sathyabhama’s remark on Ramakrishnan.
The youth wing of the ruling CPI(M), DYFI, announced that it would organise statewide events to host Ramakrishnan’s performances.
KERALA KALAMANDALAM’S STANCE
The Kerala Kalamandalam, a premiere public institution that preserves Kerala’s artistic heritage, also criticised Sathyabhama’s remarks against Ramakrishnan.
In its statement, Kalamandalam said that those who make such uncivilised comments while associating their name with the institution being disgrace upon it.
The institution noted that it does not any have connection with Sathyabhama at present, other than the fact that she was a former student.
Other than Kalamandalam, Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (Progressive Arts and Literary Organisation) condemned the “casteist” remarks and said Ramakrishnan’s contribution to Mohiniyattam is invaluable.
(With PTI inputs)
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