Miracles and Mohiniyattam

The grace, the expression, the body language, only Kanak could do justice to the moves with her perfect dancing style in this ancient dance form, Mohiniyattam.

The Mohini of Mohiniyattam; Source: Harmony India

A slender figure walks onto the stage wrapped in an off shade of white. Her plain sari is embellished with bright golden brocades that are embroidered at its borders. Her appearance is complimented with a matching blouse. From down the waist, a pleated concentric golden disturbed by saffron bands cloth is adorning the front of her sari. When her body starts moving, miracles happen in the form of Mohiniyattam.

This enchantress was Kanak Rele, a woman who is an institution in herself in the traditional dance form Mohiniyattam.

Over the years, with her efforts, Rele has standardised and strengthened the dance form from its rather amorphous form to a more scientific, aesthetic and structured style of dancing and made it the epitome of 'shastriya nritya'.

Though her performances her enchanting, she is against using the adjective for her style of dancing. She rather believes that Mohiniyattam is a lyrical dance that is inspired by the life and environs of Kerala. Dr. Rele is an expert in various dance forms.

Her experiences have made her realize that the basics of all dances remain the same, only the nuances, the body kinetics shift. In the end, it is but just an expression!

Mohiniyattam, as an Indian classical dance form evolved in Kerala and its roots, dates back to the age-old Sanskrit Hindu traditions. It is mentioned in Natya Shastra, a text on performing arts. It showcases a more graceful, gentle and feminine form of dancing. The dance form adopts its name from Mohini, the female avatar of Vishnu, so beautiful and mesmerizing that even ascetic Gods like Siva yearned for her.

The art form survived into modern days and many female artists performed it in Hindu temples without paying heed to the political developments that surrounded Mohiniyattam. When India looked back into its past to free itself from the clutches of the foreign power various traditions of the old were revived. In the effort, Mohini's dance came back too.

For many years, the dance style remained dull until its true reviver, Dr. Kanak Rele was born on 11 June 1937. Though she had been practicing Kathak ever since she was 8 and had formal training into it under Guru Panchali Karunakara Panicker, she initiated into Mohini at the behest of another teacher, Kalamandalam, later in her life.

She gave back more to the style than she ever could take out of it. Her performances amalgamate the mythological tales wherein she takes on strong woman characters and portray them through her dance.

The traditional dance style would revolve around Nayikas pinning for love. She has taken from great mythologies like Kubja, Kalyani, Silappadikaram and Swapnavasavadattam.

Rele was conferred the Gaurav Puraskar by the Government of Gujarat in 1989 and later the Padma Shri award. She was honoured with the title 'Kala Vipanchee' by Vipanchee, a pioneering institution for Indian music and dance, in 2005.

In 2006, the Government of Madhya Pradesh conferred the Kalidas Samman on her for her contributions to and excellence in the field of classical dance. She is also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the M S Subbulakshmi Award. In 2013, she was conferred the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.

Today Kanak Rele, the founder of Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya in Mumbai is content with whatever she has achieved in her life, "Now I take it easy. I do keep myself active but not as hectic as before. I too listen to my body,” she signs off with an endearing smile. She has created something significant and is at peace with her life, a feat only humans achieve.