Publication:Times Of India Chennai; Date:Jun 14, 2008; Section:Chennai Times; Page umber:29 
Mohini attam, the dance form which is an epitome of lasya is setting its roots deep in Chennai. The young generation seems to be enchanted by the swaying movements of this predominantly abhinaya oriented dance form which has its origin in Kerala. Gopika Varma, who was first to establish a dance school, Daasya, exclusively for Mohini attam in the city is all smiles, when she talks about the transformation. "In 1993, when I started the school, I used to teach students free of cost as I wanted to spread the art. No sabhas were ready to open their premises for a Mohini attam performance. But now the scene has changed. No marghazhi season is complete without Mohini attam performances; rather I should say that dance forms from various parts of the country are making it to the city," she says. The State government also did its bit to infuse life to this art. The government felicitated Gopika with a Kalaimamani award in the year 2007. "It is a matter of pride that it was the first time, the prestigious award went for a non-Tamil category dance form since its inception,' says a visibly contended Gopika. Rather than colourful costumes and heavy jewellery, it is the simplicity and the power of abhinaya that make a statement. The simplicity is visible even in the costume, which is predominantly white or off white with zari borders in gold or red. The hair is tied in a bundle on the left side with a simple ornament adorning it along with strings of jasmine. A pair of big ear studs and simple ornaments like a choker and kasumala often goes along with it. The dancer with her abhinaya, which involves eyes, eye brows and eye lids, and swaying movements literally create an alluring ambience, thus taking the audience to the highest aesthetic order of enchantment. Perhaps Mohini attam is the only dance form that was subject to several revivals and renaissance. “It is a dance form which allows lot of innovation right from the lyrics to the adavu”, says Gopika. According to her the text form for the dance is taken from Balarama Bharatham, written by Karthika Tirunal Baalarama Varma, an ancestor of King Swathi Thirunal. The mudras taken from Hastha Lakshna Deepika are now available in interactive CD format. She along with Kalamandalam Suganthi, a Mohini attam exponent has introduced 110 sublines of adavus to the former 24 major adavus to make it more flexible and reachable to the audience. The lyrics of the dance form are basically Sanskrit, Malayalam and Manipravalam. Supriya Rajan took up dancing after marriage and she says that it has worked wonders for her. “Besides posture, expressions and grace, my overall personality has changed. My love for the form is because it is the most sensitive of dance forms and very graceful”. She also says that it is the most difficult art form to excel. Madhumathi, a post graduate, started learning it just because she liked the style. "Though I know Bharatanatyam, I was attracted towards Mohini attam as I really liked the style. I have been learning it for quite a while," she says. Vipina, Apsara, Preethi and Aswini are a bunch of students who are all set to enchant this city with their unparalleled movements.
Mohini attam, the dance form which is an epitome of lasya is setting its roots deep in Chennai. The young generation seems to be enchanted by the swaying movements of this predominantly abhinaya oriented dance form which has its origin in Kerala. Gopika Varma, who was first to establish a dance school, Daasya, exclusively for Mohini attam in the city is all smiles, when she talks about the transformation. "In 1993, when I started the school, I used to teach students free of cost as I wanted to spread the art. No sabhas were ready to open their premises for a Mohini attam performance. But now the scene has changed. No marghazhi season is complete without Mohini attam performances; rather I should say that dance forms from various parts of the country are making it to the city," she says. The State government also did its bit to infuse life to this art. The government felicitated Gopika with a Kalaimamani award in the year 2007. "It is a matter of pride that it was the first time, the prestigious award went for a non-Tamil category dance form since its inception,' says a visibly contended Gopika. Rather than colourful costumes and heavy jewellery, it is the simplicity and the power of abhinaya that make a statement. The simplicity is visible even in the costume, which is predominantly white or off white with zari borders in gold or red. The hair is tied in a bundle on the left side with a simple ornament adorning it along with strings of jasmine. A pair of big ear studs and simple ornaments like a choker and kasumala often goes along with it. The dancer with her abhinaya, which involves eyes, eye brows and eye lids, and swaying movements literally create an alluring ambience, thus taking the audience to the highest aesthetic order of enchantment. Perhaps Mohini attam is the only dance form that was subject to several revivals and renaissance. “It is a dance form which allows lot of innovation right from the lyrics to the adavu”, says Gopika. According to her the text form for the dance is taken from Balarama Bharatham, written by Karthika Tirunal Baalarama Varma, an ancestor of King Swathi Thirunal. The mudras taken from Hastha Lakshna Deepika are now available in interactive CD format. She along with Kalamandalam Suganthi, a Mohini attam exponent has introduced 110 sublines of adavus to the former 24 major adavus to make it more flexible and reachable to the audience. The lyrics of the dance form are basically Sanskrit, Malayalam and Manipravalam. Supriya Rajan took up dancing after marriage and she says that it has worked wonders for her. “Besides posture, expressions and grace, my overall personality has changed. My love for the form is because it is the most sensitive of dance forms and very graceful”. She also says that it is the most difficult art form to excel. Madhumathi, a post graduate, started learning it just because she liked the style. "Though I know Bharatanatyam, I was attracted towards Mohini attam as I really liked the style. I have been learning it for quite a while," she says. Vipina, Apsara, Preethi and Aswini are a bunch of students who are all set to enchant this city with their unparalleled movements.
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