alamandalam Satyabhama, a pioneer who accorded Mohiniyattam a well-knit structure for the first time, died early on Sunday at a private nursing home at Ottappalam, near here, following a brief illness. The classical dancer, teacher, and choreographer was 77.
Her contributions to the realm of Kerala’s performing arts remain immense. Satyabhama’s career with the Kerala Kalamandalam marked a crucial phase in preserving and reinventing Mohiniyattam.
An acclaimed choreographer and widely venerated guru, she also proved her administrative skills as the first woman Vice Principal and later the Principal of her alma mater, the Kerala Kalamandalam, founded by Vallathol Narayana Menon, to promote Kathakali and other performing art forms.
Her disciples, including foreigners, are a legion who are torchbearers of the coveted ‘Kalamandalam sailee’ (school) of Mohiniyattam.
A Padma Shri awardee, her body was kept for the public to pay their homage at her residence at Shoranur and later at the Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy before cremation at Shanthitheeram on the banks of the Bharathapuzha.
Born to Krishnan Nair and Ammini Amma at Shoranur in 1937, she started learning dance at a very early age. Kalamandalam Achutha Warrier and Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Warrier nurtured her talent and prompted her to stick to the field. At Kalamandalam, Mohiniyattam stalwart Thottasseri Chinnammu Amma was her mentor.
Satyabhama’s debut on major stage was in 1955, during the silver jubilee of the Kalamandalam, in front of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
The next six years of study at the institution gave her opportunities to visit Singapore and Malaysia, as part of the touring Kalamandalam troupe, where she performed Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, and Kathakali. After completing the course, she joined Kalamandalam as a junior teacher.
Her husband, Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair, widely regarded as the master of Kathakali grammar, died in 2007.
They had four daughters, of which two are Mohiniyattam exponents.
Satyabhama’s debut on major stage was in 1955 when she performed in front of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
