Kalamandalam Sathyabhama, a 66-year-old professional classical dancer, who runs a dance school in Thiruvananthapuram made racist and casteist remarks against a particular artist in Chalakuddy in an interview with a YouTube channel. Her comments triggered a row in Kerala’s cultural sphere on Thursday.
Satyabhama’s Derogatory Comments Against Dalit Dancer
In the interview, Satyabhama said it is ‘disgusting’ to watch male dancers perform Mohiniyattam. She added, “Only exceptionally handsome men look good while performing Mohiniyattam which is meant for mohinis (women). Some of the performers’ complexions are dark as a crow, and even their own mothers would not want to look at them.”
It is alleged that the dancer or artist she was making comments against is the younger brother of the late actor Kalabhavan Mani, RLV Ramakrishnan.
Calling the artist, dark as a crow, Sathyabhama stated that only men with ‘fair skin’ should perform Mohiniyattam.
RLV Ramakrishnan’s Response
RLV Ramakrishnan responded to the casteist comment through a Facebook post stating it is difficult for an artist like him, coming from a Dalit community (Schedule Caste), to survive in the profession, due to such a casteist attitude of people.
“My black complexion is my beauty and it is the identity of my race. A woman who uses the name of Kalamandalam said I am black as a crow and only people who are fair and beautiful would perform Mohiniyattam. She says even the mother who gave birth to me cannot bear my complexion. These people make it difficult for artists belonging to the Dalit community to survive in the field,” Ramakrishna said.
Though Sathyabhama did not take Ramakrishna’s name in the interview, the comments were directed at him as he claimed that she had verbally abused him earlier when he was doing his doctorate at the Kerala Kalamandalam dance school. He added that he would take legal action against Sathyabhama.
Sathyabhama’s Response after Criticism
Following the criticism, Sathyabhama stated to the media that she did not mention anyone’s name or caste, that whatever she said was her opinion, and that she did not see any wrong in it.
“If an artist thinks a black-skinned person can perform Mohiniyattam, it is their opinion. But for me, the performer should be fair-skinned,” she added.
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