KOCHI: Padmavani Mosalikanti’s devotion to her craft is inimitable. The ‘better half’ of Mosalikanthi couple, a famous name in Kuchipudi, Padmavani has moulded her life in sync with the rhythm of her favourite dance form.
In words that are as dignified as her fluid movements on stage, she says Kuchipudi, for her cannot be contained as just a dance form or vocation. “It is my mode of expression or a way of life,” says she.
As she readies to give a lecture demonstration at Mamangam, the dance school, in Kochi on Saturday, Padmavani eloquates on her stance on the ‘experiments’ carried out in classical dance forms, the aesthetics of Malayalis and how her guru, the legendary Dr Vempati Chinna Satyam, influenced her.
“The Malayali crowd is different. They not only enjoy classical dance, they grasp it too. They are keen observers. This reflects in their passion. In fact, this is so much of an encouragement for the artist,” says Padmavani who has performed with her husband and famous dancer Jaikishore Mosalikanti at several venues in Kerala, including the Thunchan Festival at Tirur.
This, Padmavani, thinks mirrors the sentiments the youngsters share for classical art all over. And, as teachers and founders of Shivamohanam, the dance school at Chennai, Padmavani thinks classical dance like Kuchipudi will thrive in all its glory.
“We have students who are very passionate about classical dance forms. All these talk about technology revolution has made no impact on our new generation, when it comes to our traditional art forms. Classical dance, like Hinudism, is deep rooted. No invasion can uproot it. We may get adapted to many other new art forms, but our traditional ones will only get more popular,” says Padmavani.
And, it is only natural that the couple, being the disciples of legendary dance guru Dr Vempati Chinna Satyam who is widely heralded as the guru of Kuchipudi, roots for Kuchipudi in its traditional and elegant form. Very vocal about her distaste towards the ‘experiments’ carried out in classical dance, Padmavani says as dancers, they have never felt a need to carry out experiments or adaptations with Kuchipudi.
“It is a divine mode of story-telling and there is a need to adhere to certain rules. There is absolutely no need to give it a new identity,” says the dancer. But, she, however, mentions that such adaptations and collaborations may catch the interest of many if there is ‘knowledge’ in it.“Sometimes experiments are done to highlight a certain cause or to give a good message. In such context, there is a certain value attached to it. Such works may stay in mind for a while,” says Padmavani.
The Mosalikanti couple, who roams around the world imparting valuable lessons to many, says one has to be a guru to his or her students.
“We are blessed to be the students of Vempati Chinna Satyam. He not only taught us dance, but gave us an insight into life. He instilled in us noble thoughts and principles. We try to give our students the same thing,” says the dancer.