THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission here on Friday initiated a suo motu case against dance teacher Kalamandalam Sathyabhama over her controversial racist remarks on the complexion of a male mohiniyattam artist — in an apparent reference to R L V Ramakrishnan on a YouTube channel.
Commission member V K Beena Kumari directed the secretary of the cultural affairs department and the Thrissur district police chief to examine the comments and submit a report within 15 days.
The action was taken by the Commission on its own based on media reports on Sathyabhama’s recent interview. Guinness Madaswamy, a human rights activist, had also approached the commission with a complaint on the matter.
Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan came out in support of Ramakrishnan, saying: “The government has always supported people like R L V Ramakrishnan. The government has also given them venues.”
Meanwhile, expressing solidarity with Ramakrishnan, actor-politician Suresh Gopi on Friday invited him, over phone, to perform at the Bharanikkavu temple in Kollam, the latter’s family temple. Suresh Gopi suggested March 28 as the date of performance.
Ramakrishnan, however, declined the invitation saying he has another performance scheduled for the day.
Ramakrishnan said he would convey the same to Suresh Gopi.
Ministers Saji Cheriyan, R Bindu, Veena George, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan, and BJP state chief K Surendran, among others, had condemned the statement.
The Kerala Kalamandalam, a premier public institution that preserves Kerala's artistic heritage, had also condemned Sathyabhama's remarks.
On Friday, Sreekumaran Thampi -- a renowned Indian lyricist, music director, Director, producer, and screenwriter in Malayalam cinema -- said that she was not eligible to carry the moniker 'Kalamandalam Satyabhama' which was a well-respected name.
"Kalamandalam Satyabhama was one of the biggest gurus of Mohiniyattam seen in Kerala. She (Kalamandalam Satyabhama junior) was a student under the actual Kalamandalam Satyabhama. This lady should not have taken that name," Thampi told a news channel.
The actual Kalamandalam Satyabhama was an Indian classical dancer, teacher, and choreographer, known for her performances and scholarship in Mohiniyattam.
She died in September 2015 at the age of 77.
Meanwhile, actor-cum-politician Suresh Gopi, who is contesting in the coming Lok Sabha polls from Thrissur as a BJP candidate, today said that on March 28 there is a 'cherup' -- a religious ritual -- at the temple frequented by his family in Kollam and he will invite Ramakrishnan to perform Mohiniyattam there if the artist was available on that date.
Subsequently, Ramakrishnan was seen on TV talking on the phone with Gopi who was heard inviting the artist to perform at the temple on March 28 and the dancer accepted the invitation.
In the purported interview, Sathyabhama had said, "The person who performs Mohiniyattam should be 'mohini' (enchanting). He has the colour of a crow. This is an art form that requires a stance that keeps the legs wide apart. There is nothing more repulsive than a man who performs with his legs wide apart in this manner.
"In my opinion, men should perform Mohiniyattam only if they are that good-looking...But his looks are unbearable," she added.
Sathyabhama, however, had not specified whom she was referring to. She later told reporters that she stood by her remarks. Sathyabhama’s comments had evoked outrage and widespread condemnation from various quarters.
(With inputs from PTI)
