She can dance

Thara Varma became a member of the Tripunithura Kathakali Kendram Ladies Troupe in Kerala, when women were not welcome to learn the dance form

Thara Varma is one of the most gifted dancers in the country today. She carved a niche for herself with her artistic prowess in Kathakali, at a time when women were confined within the four walls of their home. Varma began to learn Kathakali, a predominantly male art form, around 50 years ago, when she was all of nine. This was the time when even female characters were being portrayed by men. "It has been a tough journey," she tells mid-day. Things changed in 1975, with the foundation of the Tripunithura Kathakali Kendram Ladies Troupe in Ernakulum, Kerala. "From helpers and makeup artists in the green room to actors and those playing chenda and maddalam [vital and heavy instruments with leather cover on either sides played in Kathakali orchestra], every role was played by a woman. I became part of this highly-skilled group. It has been an absolute honour," Varma, now 59, tells us.

Last week, for the first time in its 90-year history, Kerala Kalamandalam, the premiere public institution in the country for the preservation and promotion of Kerala's traditional performing arts, admitted girl students to learn Kathakali. Varma, who now resides in Thane, couldn't have been happier. "When I was learning Kathakali, one could only perform in temples. But, menstruating women were not allowed there. So girls like me had to find other ways to continue their passion."
She remembers how only male dancers performed at the Kerala Kalamandalam. "Performances would begin late in the night and end the next morning. Women didn't feel safe to participate, nor were they able to lift and play heavy instruments after a point."

Priya Nambudiri enacts the complex character of Parashurama in Seethaswayamvaram

Varma who still performs in Mumbai, says that she can see the tide changing. "More and more female dancers want to learn Kathakali despite the challenges," adds Varma, who belongs to the Poonjar royal family. In a career spanning five decades, she has portrayed Pacha (green), Kathi (knife) veshams, and also donned the garb of Ravana, Duryodhana, Nala, Karna, Bheema, Kunti and Damayanti.

Mulund-based Priya Nambudiri has portrayed the most challenging and choreographically complex characters in Kathakali like that of Ravana in Ulbhavam and Narakasura in Narakasuravadham, and also Parashurama in Seethaswayamvaram. She has also enacted fiery characters like Dusshasana, Veerabhadra or Kattala with utmost ease. Nambudiri has won special acclaim for her portrayal of Kathi and Thaadi (beard) veshams. "Though I've been credited with portraying a variety of male roles in my 30-year dance career, I don't have a valid certificate to prove my calibre. That is going to be the biggest advantage for the next generation of female students at Kerala Kalamandalam. They can earn a formal degree in the field of their choice. Moreover, learning privately under a teacher is always limited to once or twice a week; the rest is self-study. But if you are learning in an institution dedicated to the arts, you are living in it 24/7, and that definitely helps," says Nambudiri, expressing disappointment that opportunities like these were rare when she started learning Kathakali.

As a child, Nambudiri was fascinated by colours. She told her parents she wanted to dress up as Krishna. "Vesham [outfit] was my first attraction. But when I started learning the intricate techniques of the dance form, I became more interested in Kathakali. Uncles and aunts would ask my parents, ‘why are you teaching her Kathakali?' But today, the same people sit in the front row and cheer for me. Times have certainly changed. I am happy for the present generation,
but I also envy them a little," Nambudiri chuckles.

TK Narayanan, Vice-Chancellor, Kerala Kalamandalam, told media persons that they had received requests from several quarters to give admission to girl students in the Kalamadalam. The institute will expose them to a diverse pool of teachers, who have huge exposure and deep knowledge of the subject.

Kalamandalam C Gopalakrishnan, who trains female Kathakali dancers in Mumbai, says, "Not just Kerala Kalamandalam, but everybody should follow suit and admit female students who want to pursue Kathakali. I am happy that this has finally become a reality for my students."