Kalamandalam Satyabhama lands in fresh controversy over remarks targeting actress Sneha Sreekumar

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Dancer Kalamandalam Satyabhama has sparked fresh controversy after sharing a video on Facebook in which she body-shames actress Sneha Sreekumar and makes derogatory remarks about her family. This comes after an earlier incident where Satyabhama targeted dancer R.L.V. Ramakrishnan with caste-based comments. Sneha had criticised Satyabhama over that controversy, which seems to have prompted this latest video.

In the video, Satyabhama mocks Sneha’s husband, Sreekumar, over his alleged involvement in a case and threatens to confront Sneha publicly.

Although she does not name Sneha or Sreekumar directly, Sneha’s image appears in the video. Satyabhama also references the popular sitcom in which Sneha acts.

Satyabhama criticises Sneha’s dance background and choices, saying:

"There is a woman who learned Ottamthullal at Kalamandalam. I don’t even know if she actually learned it. She almost looks like a ball. Do you know what she told me when she came? Will this woman dance with that person? ... You went for a dance interview and didn’t get it, yet you learnt Ottamthullal. Are you performing what you learnt first? Do that first, then come to me."

Earlier controversy

Satyabhama had previously faced criticism for caste-based remarks against dancer R.L.V. Ramakrishnan, brother of the late actor Kalabhavan Mani. She said that only individuals with certain physical attributes were suitable for Mohiniyattom, claiming Ramakrishnan’s skin colour and body type made him unfit. She added that only “beautiful” women should perform the dance form.

Her comments led to a human rights commission case and drew widespread criticism. Sneha had publicly spoken against Satyabhama at the time, which appears to have prompted this latest video response.