Sreekumaran Thampi responds to Satyabhama colourism row

Thiruvananthapuram: Reacting to the Satyabhama controversy, Sreekumaran Thampi -- a renowned Indian lyricist, music director, director, producer, and screenwriter in Malayalam cinema -- said that she was not eligible to carry the moniker 'Kalamandalam Satyabhama' which was a well respected name.

"Kalamandalam Satyabhama was one of the biggest gurus of Mohiniyattam seen in Kerala. She (Kalamandalam Satyabhama junior) was a student under the actual Kalamandalam Satyabhama. This lady should not have taken that name," Thampi said.

The actual Kalamandalam Satyabhama was an Indian classical dancer, teacher and choreographer, known for her performances and scholarship in Mohiniyattam. She died in September 2015 at the age of 77.

In the purported interview, Sathyabhama had said, "The person who performs Mohiniyattam should be 'mohini' (enchanting). He has the colour of a crow. This is an art form that requires a stance that keeps the legs wide apart. There is nothing more repulsive than a man who performs with his legs wide apart in this manner.

 PTI