THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Actor Nedumudi Venu criticised the decision of the Cultural Affairs Department that trivialises Kerala Natanam dance form by starting short-term courses at Guru Gopinath Natanagramam. He wrote a letter to Cultural Affairs Minister A K Balan urging his intervention. The decision to start a one-year certificate course is against the purpose with which the institute was created, he said.
“The institute was founded with the intention to introduce Kerala Natanam to children. For older students, there are colleges that offer degree and diploma course. Besides one year is not enough to get a grasp of the dance form developed by Guru Gopinath,” said Nedumudi, who is also the president of Sree Guru Gopinath Trust.
Natanagramam, which was once mentored by Sundareswari Amma, Kottayam Chellappan-Bhavani couple, dancer Shankarankutty, Guru Gopalakrishnan, Viswakalakendram Pankajavalli does not have a Kerala Natanam expert. There is no permanent faculty even for music, he said. The institute was founded by maestro Guru Gopinath in Vattiyoorkavu, a suburb of Thiruvananthapuram. It was later handed over to the government.