Mohiniyattam is gender-specific; veterans of Kalamandalam never encouraged boy participation

Thrissur: Despite the audience's and teacher’s constant insistence that art transcends gender boundaries, it is ironic that the most prestigious institution, Kalamandalam, has never accepted male students to study the traditional art form of Mohiniyattam.

Dr. NR. Grama Prakash, the registrar, secretary, and management member, disclosed that numerous requests to admit boys for this art form were brought up in management meetings, but no results were ever produced. It also resurfaced when conflicting opinions about whether or not girls should learn Kathakali were widely shared online. Veteran dancer Kalamandalam Gopi firmly supported this at the time, stating that women are capable of doing it as well.

No such strong urge or dedication was ever seen from the part of the teachers and trainers of Kalamandalam when it came to Mohiniyattam. 

Many institutions, like R.L.V.College and Kalady University, started teaching boys this art form years ago. 

Kerala Kalamandalam, a deemed-to-be- university of art and culture by the Government of India, began in 1933 while the Mohiniyattam model was introduced in the 1950s. Even during that time, trainers or teachers like Kalamozhi Krishna Menon and Appuredathu Krishna Panicker were there in Kalamandalam but never encouraged boy admission.