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Memories of struggle, dreams of the future
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The weeklong Bharatanatya Mahotsava, which is on in the City, is a meeting place for more than one generation of dancers. It is also reliving the traditional guru-shishya parampara. For Mani Iyer, it has ushered in new hope for the future.
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THE KOHL-lined eyes dart anxiously as he watches his protégées dance at the Ravindra Kalakshetra. His frail dhoti-clad, bare-chested body makes a few movements unconsciously causing the stones on his be-jewelled waistband to shine as they catch the light. He is overwhelmed by the attention and praise that he and his students get after the demonstration. His eyes fill up as he does a quick flashback. "I never imagined I would be called by the Sangeet Natak Academy to demonstrate my dance," says Nartanamani, Kalashri K.S. Mani Iyer of Mandya. "After teaching dance for more than 47 years, I have now had the good fortune to see my students on this prestigious stage." At 76, the genial dancer has all but passed on the baton to his son, Prakash Iyer. The young man continues to teach his father's students in Mandya and does double duty in Bangalore. "I am proud that my son is going to do the nattuvangam for film star and dancer Sreedhar during the Bharatanatyam Mahotsava. Prakash has learnt dance from me and vocal music from his mother. But when I wanted to learn dances, my family, and the community, was totally against me," reminiscences Mani Iyer.
Born in a purohit family, K.S. Mani disliked studying and reciting shlokas so much that he often felt like running away. Dance, however, fascinated him. When he could take the scriptures no more he literally begged for food and made his way to Madras to learn the Vayur style of Bharatanatya, from Guru Natarajana Shakuntala.
Dancing at street corners, in temples, and in marriage pandals, the young Mani then went to Kerala and learnt Kathakali from Gopinathan Thangamani. "Those were extremely difficult days. There were no platforms for dancers. No one promoted Bharatanatya. Only when Karnataka introduced the dance examinations in 1964 did our stock go up," reveals the septuagenarian.
Things have changed for him today. Now when he has settled down comfortably in Mandya, people offer him all sorts of assistance. "But I am happy that I am respected for my art. I am happy that so many young boys and girls want to learn Bharatanatyam. But they are a lazy lot! See, this girl here took 11 years to learn what she was capable of learning in six years!" he admonishes a young disciple fondly. "Dance is hard work. Without a love and passion for it, one can't come up as a dancer," warns the guru who propagates traditional styles. "I am happy with this form, but I don't think it is wrong to bring in new thinking into this art form. Programmes such as this one will go a long way in nurturing this dance form and encouraging hundreds of dancers."
The long struggle has ended. Guru Mani Iyer calls out to his little grandchildren. His kohl-lined eyes shine with love and hope as he dreams of these, his youngest disciples, taking the stage some time in the future.
MALA KUMAR
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