Kalamandalam Calcutta golden jubilee with over 1,600 students
KOCHI: A dream envisioned by husband-wife duo, both alumni of Kerala Kalamandalam, almost half a century back came to fruition and that too in a manner none could fathom. Kalamandalam Calcutta, founded by couple guru Govindan Kutty and guru Thankamani Kutty in 1968, today has seven branches and a student strength of over 1,600. The institution turned 50 this year.
“This is the golden jubilee year of our institution. These past 50 years have been eventful. Starting from a school my parents established, we have today grown into a recognised name in the arts and culture scenario in Calcutta,” said Somanath G Kutty, the son of the founders and also the secretary of the organisation.
Somanath said after completing their studies in Kerala Kalamandalam, his parents wanted to dedicate their lives to teaching the art they learnt. “My father was a Kathakali exponent while my mother is an expert in Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam,” he said. Somanath said, “I remember my mother telling me how they decided against owning a house. They wanted to dedicate themselves wholly to dance.”
He said Kerala’s traditional dances, especially Kathakali, had a huge fan base in Bengal during those times. “It is said Rabindranath Tagore had tried to entice Vallathol into setting up an institution on the lines of Kalamandalam in Bengal. However, in a twist of fate, the onus fell on my parents,” he said.
West Bengal as such doesn’t have its own dance form. “They don’t have art and culture they can call their own. This might be because the population here is one that doesn’t have roots like in Kerala. Tagore had been the pioneer in building a cultural arena in Bengal,” said Somanath.
The dance form that attracted West Bengal natives the most was Bharatanatyam.“In the past 50 years, our school itself has produced over 20,000 Bharatanatyam artists. I am proud to say many of our students have established dance schools abroad and are doing really well,” he said.
Slight dip
Contrary to the immense popularity the dance forms enjoyed, there has been a slight dip in the interest shown by students in taking up dance as a profession of late. “Even concerts and recitals have been hit by the smartphone culture. The situation has become such that to get a decent number of people as audience, organisers have to bribe them with promises of lunch or dinner. Art forms are slowly losing their clientele to the fast life,” Somanath rued.
Dancer duo
Kalamandalam Calcutta, founded by couple guru Govindan Kutty and guru Thankamani Kutty in 1968, today has seven branches. After completing their studies in Kerala Kalamandalam, his parents wanted to dedicate their lives to teaching the art they learnt. In the past 50 years, our school itself has produced over 20,000 Bharatanatyam artists.