The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Chairman Soorya Krishnamoorthy (the name Nataraja Krishnamoorthy is better known by, due to the fame of his film stage and society, Soorya ) has his rationale for conducting the events of the Akademi the way he does. He stresses that the Kerala SNA is not a “rich akademi” and he has been able, by collaborating with local, private organisations, to implement schemes for which he otherwise would not have funds, including insurance for theatre practitioners and a new cultural complex due to become operational. Here he responds to questions regarding the Mohini Nrithyathi festival. Excerpts from a telephone conversation:
What has been the response to the festival among audiences, and what criterion does the Akademi use to select the cities?
I took charge of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi two-and-a half years back. Since then we have been trying to promote Mohiniattam in a big way. This is the second major national festival. And we are having it in eight States. We don’t have funds to organise a festival of this magnitude so we get help from the local people. For the first time we held it in Nagaland, Assam, etc. All these things were possible with local support. This is the third year we are holding such a massive Mohiniattam festival. It is the first of its kind in the history of the SNA in Kerala. We are holding monthly programmes within Kerala at permanent venues. We are promoting Mohiniattam in a big way on the national scene. Mohiniattam is never included in major festivals in the country. We are offering to foot the bill of the artist if Mohiniattam is going to be included.
What is the criterion for selection of artists for this festival?
The norms of the selection vary every year. We formed a committee — with Neena Prasad, Methyl Devika, Pallavi Krishnan, Vineetha Nedungadi, and Gopika Varma (these are all awardees) — to select all the awardees of the State. We selected awardees who have been awarded by Kerala SNA or Central Sangeet Natak Akademi. But three senior artists said they would not perform because of various reasons, but in their place their disciples will perform. These were Kalamandalam Kshemavathy, Bharati Shivaji and Kalamandalam Sugandhi. Nominees of their choice performed. Next years’ festival committee is already finalised, with Kalamandalam Kshemavathy as chairperson, Nirmala Paniker as convenor, Kalamandalam Sugandhi as vice chairperson, Kalamandalam Saraswathy, Kalamandalam Leelamma and Kalamandalam Haimavathy as members. They have shortlisted names which will be published in February. The criterion here is ‘artists of tomorrow’, those artists who are below 30 and have excelled. So all the great gurus of Mohiniattam are selecting the artists. Neither the chairman nor secretary (of Kerala SNA) interferes in the selection. But the executive committee will have to okay it. That has been done, but we never make changes.
The previous year's Mohini Nrithyathi was organised in association with the Soorya Festival. Is it being conducted jointly with Soorya Festival this year too?
Soorya (collaboration) is in Thiruvananthapuram only. They are paying for the rent of the hall, generator, hospitality, lights and sound. In other places various organisations (are doing this). There are Malayali associations, local organisations. Full funding cannot be met by the Akademi. Culture is the least priority in any budget. Finance ministers of all the states and central government have put culture last.
Also, it is alleged that none of the senior gurus such as Kalamandalam Leelamma, Kanak Rele, Bharati Shivaji and others have been consulted in planning or execution of the festival or artist selection and they were reported to have been unhappy over this.
That is false news. Five great gurus conducted a press conference. All of them were appreciating the work of the Kerala SNA and were complaining about some young dancers in Delhi who control all the awards, put political influence, etc. They have signed a memorandum to that effect. The five gurus are Kalamandalam Haimavathy, Kalamandalam Kshemavathy, Kalamandalam Leelamma, Kalamandalam Saraswathy, Bharati Shivaji.
The selection committee members are themselves performing in the festival…
The awardees came and told us, “Although we are awardees we are not getting chances (to perform)”. This year the festival is by awardees only. The committee was formed by the awardees only to see that no awardee was left out. For the 2014 December festival I have put only non-performers (in the selection committee).
Your rationale for asking dancers to perform to recorded music in a festival meant to promote a holistic tradition…
If you are going for live music the expenditure comes to Rs.60,000 per programme. It is impossible for anybody to give. It (this festival) is only to expose them. We are educating the people. For example, in Assam, it’s the first time they are seeing Mohiniattam. In Kerala alone a single programme would cost Rs.35,000 rupees with a live orchestra. Nothing will be left for the dancer.
What do you pay the dancers?
We are giving Rs.15,000 which we will slowly increase. We will slowly get sponsors. Live music is the best, I’m not saying anything (against that).
