Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma
Encyclopedia
Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma (1915–1999) was an epoch-making Mohiniyattam danseuse from Kerala
in southern India
. She is considered as the "Mother of Mohiniyattam". A native of Thirunavaya
in Malappuram
district of the state, she was instrumental in resurrecting Mohiniyattam from a dismal, near-extinct state into a mainstream Indian classical dance, rendering it formal structure and ornamentation.
Kalyanikutty Amma, one of the early-batch students of Kerala Kalamandalam
, was married to the late Kathakali
maestro Padma Shri
Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair
.
Of the two books Kalyanikutty Amma has authored, "Mohiniyattam - History and Dance Structure" is considered as an elaborate and only authentic documentation on Mohiniyattam. Noted among her disciples are her daughters Sreedevi Rajan and Kala Vijayan and Mrinalini Sarabhai
and Deepti Omchery Bhalla.
A winner of both the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy and Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi awards, Kalyanikutty Amma died on May 12, 1999 in Tripunithura (where the couple had settled) at the age of 84. Her son Babu Kalasala
is a cinema and television actor, while her granddaughter Smitha Rajan
is a noted Mohiniyattam artiste.
IGNCA Documentations
IGNCA Documentations
Narthaki.com Profiles/Kalamandalam Kalayanikutty Amma
Mohiniyattom ManoramaOnline.com Articles on Culture
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in southern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. She is considered as the "Mother of Mohiniyattam". A native of Thirunavaya
Thirunavaya
Thirunavaya is a small village in Malappuram district of Kerala, south India. This village is famed as the theatre of the Mamankam festival held in the Thirunavaya Temple on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River....
in Malappuram
Malappuram
Malappuram is a municipality in the South Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 33.61 km2. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Malappuram district. As per the 2011 census Malappuram urban agglomeration is the fourth largest UA in kerala with a total population of...
district of the state, she was instrumental in resurrecting Mohiniyattam from a dismal, near-extinct state into a mainstream Indian classical dance, rendering it formal structure and ornamentation.
Kalyanikutty Amma, one of the early-batch students of Kerala Kalamandalam
Kerala Kalamandalam
Kerala Kalamandalam , lately renamed as Kalamandalam Deemed University of Art and Culture, is a major centre for learning Indian performing arts, especially those that developed in the southern state of India, with the special emphasis on Kerala. It is situated in the village of Cheruthuruthy in...
, was married to the late Kathakali
Kathakali
Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion...
maestro Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair
Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair
Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair was one of the most renowned Kathakali artists of any time, and arguably the greatest in the history of the four-century-old classical dance-drama from Kerala in southern India...
.
Of the two books Kalyanikutty Amma has authored, "Mohiniyattam - History and Dance Structure" is considered as an elaborate and only authentic documentation on Mohiniyattam. Noted among her disciples are her daughters Sreedevi Rajan and Kala Vijayan and Mrinalini Sarabhai
Mrinalini Sarabhai
Mrinalini Sarabhai is a celebrated Indian classical dancer, choreographer and instructor. She is the founder director of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, an institute for imparting training in dance, drama, music and puppetry, in the city of Ahmedabad...
and Deepti Omchery Bhalla.
A winner of both the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy and Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi awards, Kalyanikutty Amma died on May 12, 1999 in Tripunithura (where the couple had settled) at the age of 84. Her son Babu Kalasala
Kalasala Babu
Kalasala Babu is a popular Indian actor who has performed on stage, and in television serials and films.-On stage:Babu had been acting in radio plays while at college. Following his graduation in 1973, Babu acted in Paanchajanyam, yielding a good performance. Babu acted at Kalidasa Kala Kendram...
is a cinema and television actor, while her granddaughter Smitha Rajan
Smitha Rajan
Smitha Rajan is a Mohiniyattam performer from Kerala and granddaughter of the legendary Indian classical dancer couple of Padma Shri Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma. Her mother Sreedevi Rajan is a noted Mohiniyattam Guru and Smitha's teacher...
is a noted Mohiniyattam artiste.
External links
About Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty AmmaIGNCA Documentations
IGNCA Documentations
Narthaki.com Profiles/Kalamandalam Kalayanikutty Amma
Mohiniyattom ManoramaOnline.com Articles on Culture
See also
- Kalamandalam Krishnan NairKalamandalam Krishnan NairKalamandalam Krishnan Nair was one of the most renowned Kathakali artists of any time, and arguably the greatest in the history of the four-century-old classical dance-drama from Kerala in southern India...
- Indian women in dance
- Smitha RajanSmitha RajanSmitha Rajan is a Mohiniyattam performer from Kerala and granddaughter of the legendary Indian classical dancer couple of Padma Shri Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma. Her mother Sreedevi Rajan is a noted Mohiniyattam Guru and Smitha's teacher...