Shyamala Surendran “Dance Has Given Me The Indianness”

Acclaimed Mohiniattam and Bharata Natyam exponent Shyamala Surendran is the recipient of the prestigious Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademi award for her invaluable and outstanding contribution in the field of classical dance, besides other awards and honors. Shyamala has also constructed the Sathi Kamala Hall, adjacent to her sprawling bungalow in Kochi. in the Kerala architectural style and in the traditional format of “Koothuambalam, she has established the Dharana School of Performing Arts and her international disciples have opened centers in Germany, Russia and France. In an exclusive interview with VIJAY SHANKER, Shyamala talks about her journey as a danseuse, teacher and impressario, that spans for over three decades.

The 31st Kalotsav festival organized in Cochin for three days from November 1 to 3rd by Dharani Society, an annual event organized by Shyamala Surendran was a rare experience. The festival was inaugurated by Elias George, former MD of Kochi Metro who said that in today’s world of technological and material advancement, it is essential to not lose the finer aspects of life which can be derived only from classical arts like classical music and dance. He further praised the untiring efforts of devoted artists like Shyamala Surendran in keeping the traditional arts alive. Shyamala Surendran in order to provide a platform for deserving and established performers, organizes the festival regularly. In spite of being a wonderful human being, teacher and performer of great merit, what strikes me most about her persona, is her simplicity and humility. Dressed mostly in the traditional white sari, Shymala talks about her passion and devotion for classical dance that really touches you.

“As a young girl I was a student of the St Teresa Anglo Indian High School (Kannanur) and the headmaster Chemanjeri Kunjuraman Nair who lived up to the grand old age of 104 was a constant source of encouragement and guidance for me as I was the school leader and we used to dance to old Hindi film songs. I had choreographed the dance sequence for the popular number “Hamara Gaon Koi Ayega” which was an instant hit in the school. While studying at Sree Narayana College, I performed “Natanam Adinar” in the Bharata Natyam which I had learnt from Janardhanan Sir and surprisingly won the Gold Medal but strangely at that age did not understand the significance of classical dance but enjoyed dancing.

“At the 10th anniversary celebrations of my college, which was just before my marriage in the year 1971, my principal Prof Shivaprasad was keen that I participate but my father would not agree but at last he was convinced and I performed to the delight of everyone. I married Captain K. R. Surendran, a musician who played the piano and the accordion and always willing to support my artistic inclinations. I was introduced to the great Kathakali actor Guru Raghavan Nair in Mumbai and I danced for him and he told my husband that I must be encouraged to learn further as he felt that I was talented.

Surendran was a captain with Jayanti shipping, now known as Shipping Corporation of India, and for twelve years I had the privilege of travelling along with him to different countries but I felt that something was missing and that was dance. I could not dance in the ship as that would disturb others and some of them were working on shift basis and they needed rest. I further refurbished learning Bharat Natyam and Mohiniattam from great teachers like the Dhananjayans, Kalanidhi Narayanan, Kalyani Kutty amma,Sreedevi Rajan and Kamalarani”.

The Dharani School of Performing Arts was established in 1987 and has trained several dance aspirants; many of them have become professionals and have established their own dance academy as well. Society Dharani was established in 2000 to encourage and interact with other artists from all over India and abroad. The Dharani Ensemble has performed in several festivals with thematic productions like Tatvamassy (You Are That) based on the upnishad is conveyed through the legend of Ayappa and is the manifestation of absolute reality, which we call by different names like Allah, Jesus or Bhagwan. Stree Shakti celebrates the power of women, and Vanamali is the dance offering to Krishna.

Shyamala continues further. “It has been more than 30 years when I established Dharani School of Performing Arts with just one student in my sitting room and it feels like it was just yesterday. I had no clue that I would take up teaching and when I started teaching. I realized that it was my forte. I truly loved it and that was the purpose of my life. It was when I started learning Bharat Natyam from Dhanajayan Sir and Kalanidhi Mami that I realized Natya was beyond just entertainment. One had to completely surrender to the Natya to enjoy and understand what it is and that is when I decided that I must show the art to all children who were learning only to become a Kala Thilakam or Kala Praveen.

“From the day of inception of Dharani, till today I have not sent any of my students to participate in the Youth Festivals with the new generation of teachers, coming forward to teach the young ones. I hope they understand the deep essence of Natya and continue to keep the standards high”.

An artiste who truly believes in Simple living and High Thinking signs off by stating, “I sincerely hope and trust and I am confident too that God grants me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and also the wisdom to know the difference”.