We can try something for fancy sake but to stand the test of time and to get the nuances right, formal training is important. Yes, talent can help. But talent plus training is the most desired combination.
1.Tell us more about your background and journey.
I was born in Tripunithura, Kerala, a town which is considered a cultural hub. So I was exposed to different art forms from my early childhood itself. Moreover, my mothers family is into kathakali and a lot of my cousins have learned kathakali. So kathakali was always a point of discussion and we used to go to temple festivals to watch full night kathakali programs as was common those days. This is my exposure to kathakali.
2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue dancing and how did you start?
Though 11 years is considered the right age to start learning kathakali, I started learning much later when I was 24 years old, after my marriage and son was born. Though I was always interested in learning kathakali somehow it did not happen at the right age. I had learned a bit of kathakali music and Carnatic music on the way. The reason why I started learning Kathakali is again my maternal family. A family gettogether was organised wherein one of my cousins wrote a story, another cousin choreographed it and acting was also done by my relatives. Seeing this made me left out and I decided to pursue the art. Though my mother and husband were a little sceptical about it initially- me being a lady trying to learn a male-dominated art form and at the wrong age, they supported me in my endeavour.
3. Who is your favourite dancer and why?
My favourite actor is my Guru- Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody. I also consider Kottakal Sivaram as my Manasa Guru. He specialised in female characters and I like his style of portraying them. I also specialise in female characters.
4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a dancer?
In kathakali being a woman actor is not at all a welcome idea. We have to strive really hard to be taken seriously. We are tested at all levels to be considered professional artist.
5. Is format training required or can one train themselves purely based on talent?
All classical art forms need formal training. That is my belief. We can try something for fancy sake but to stand the test of time and to get the nuances right, formal training is important. Yes, talent can help. But talent plus training is the most desired combination.
6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?
To follow one's passion and put one's heart to it without looking for short term gratification is important. Today there are multiple means by which you can become famous overnight, but real work and real appreciation only in the long run. So please be ready for the long haul and don’t get carried away by immediate fame and popularity.
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
I have two favourite books by the same author. Ayn Rand. Atlas Shrugged and The Fountain Head. I think they both talk about the above idea of passion and hard work and belief in oneself.
- Haripriya Nambudiri (Kathakali Dancer)
Dr. Haripriya Nambudiri is a renowned Kathakali artist who has excelled in a traditionally male bastion. She was trained in the traditional Gurukula system where she developed an affinity towards female characters. Her masterpieces include some important female characters like Poothana, Urvashi and Lalithas (demonesses disguised as beautiful women).
Her calibre has been recognised through awards like the Sthreeratnam award, Devadasi national award and Venmani Kathakali award. Her keen desire to augment the research culture in Kathakali was recognised when she was also selected for the Junior fellowship by the Central Ministry for Culture.
She has earned doctoral degree in Kathakali from Kerala Kalamandalam University for her research on the topic – ‘feminine in Kathakali’.
As part of her endeavour to popularise Kathakali, Haripriya is part of many cultural organisations like Tripunithura Kathakali Kendram and Vanitha Kathakali Sangham. The differentiating factor that people praise in Haripriya is her ability to transcend the strict discipline of Kathakali to gracefully infuse the emotive aspects and create a holistic experience for the audience.
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