A dancer's tribute to EMS

A danseuse in Kerala is set to portray legendary Marxist leader E M S Namboodiripad using 'Mohiniyattam', the state's traditional dance form.

'Mohiniyattam', known as the dance of the enchantress, is an exquisite feminine dance style with undulating flow of body movements in which delicate themes of love are generally performed.

Kalamandalam Hemalatha (33) will be using this traditional art form to portray various anecdotes from the life of 'EMS', as Namboodirioad was affectionaly called, using the 'veer bhava' in her 45-minute performance before an audience of hard core red brigade -- Democratic Youth Federation of Activists (DYFI), CPI(M)'s youth wing -- at their conference to be held at Chalakudy in Thrissur district from October 6-8. The show is likely on October 6, she said.

A ballet on Mother Teresa is next on her list.

EMS -- Elamkulam Sankaran Namboodiripad, the first Chief Minister of Kerala and one of the first communist leaders in the world to head an elected government in 1957, had fought against casteism and conservatism that existed in the Brahmin Namboodiri community in the state.

His compassion towards the downtrodden working class, the revolutionary land reforms he had introduced and his fight for the rights of widows will all be featured in the performance.

P B Jayan, director of the 'Devi Kalamandalam' and husband of the dancer, said 25 children--both boys and girls--had been selected for the ballet and were being trained.

Earlier, Hemalatha had presented the 'Tom and Jerry' story through Mohiniattam in July which had been well received, Jayan said. Background songs would narrate the story of EMS.

While the ballet on EMS will portray the 'veer bhava', the 'Tom and Jerry' performance gave importance to 'hasya bhava', he said.

Jayan said he does not think that CPI(M) or relatives of EMS would object to the peformance.

"The younger generation should learn about stalwarts like EMS who have made several sacrifices to uplift the society", he said.

The dancer had also given a peformance about a 'Dumb King', a story picked from the Panchathantra tales. It was performed during the last assembly elections.

Hemalatha also trains housewives from villages in the traditional art form. "We are going to villages in Thrissur district to take classes for ordinary housewives over 50 years of age", she said.

Article Source: http://www.share.onlypunjab.com

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