Mohiniyattam

Mohiniyattam is a beautiful dance form of kerala. The name Mohiniyattam itself suggests 'the dance of the beautiful'. Attam is the vernacular word for dance. It is believed that this art form originated in the 16th century AD. This is because the word Mohiniyattam was first mentioned in the work 'Vyavaharamala' by Mazhamangalathu Narayanan Namboothiri, who lived in that century. It is related to Bharatanatyam, which was a Devadasi dance in Tamil Nadu. Mohiniyattam was also performed by Devadasis who were appointed to dance in temples. Therefore, it was also known as Dasiyattam in the early days.

Even the hair is tied in a way that suits the traditional style of Kerala women. The dress is a cheela and blouse with a thin hem. The cheela is beautifully draped. A chutti on the forehead, a thoda and kodakadukkanum in the ears, a nagapatathali on the neck, and a pawn mala. The hair tied in a circle at the back of the head is decorated with flowers. A nose ring is worn, and ornaments with the names of the sun and the moon are worn on both sides of the head. There are kapas and chilangas on the hands and feet. The artist performing Mohiniyattam is dressed in this very beautiful way when she enters the stage.

Famous Mohiniyattam dancers

■ Kalamandalam Kalyanikuttyamma

■ Thottasseri Chinnammu Amma

■ Kalamandalam Satyabhama

■ Kanak Rele

■ Ragini Devi

■ Deepthi Bhalla

■ Sunanda Nair

■ Geetha Nayak

■ Kala Devi

■ Shanta Rao

■ Kalamandalam Kshemavati

■ Bharathi Sivaji

■ Hema Malini

■ Pallavi Krishnan

PSC Questions

1. Kerala's unique lasya dance form - Mohiniyattam

2. A dance form that emphasizes lasya - Mohiniyattam (Rasam - Shringaram)

3. A dance form that originated from the Devadasi system and later elevated to classical status - Mohiniyattam

4. Who is the Malayalam poet who first mentioned Mohiniyattam - Kunchan Nambiar

5. Which is the story of Kunchan Nambiar that mentions Mohiniyattam - Goshayatra

6. Who was the Travancore ruler who banned Mohiniyattam in the temples of Travancore - Rani Parvati Bai

7. The Travancore ruler who played a major role in the revival of Mohiniyattam - Swathi Thirunal

8. What kind of music is used for Mohiniyattam - Carnatic music

9. What is the name of the first item in Mohiniyattam concert - Cholkattu

10. Who introduced the musical instrument Mridangam to replace the topi maddalam for Mohiniyattam - Vallathol Narayana Menon

11. Who is known as the mother of Mohiniyattam - Kalamandalam Kalyanikuttyamma.

12. Author of the book 'Mohiniyattam - History and Attaprakaram' - Kalamandalam Kalyanaikuttyamma

13. First Guru Gopinath National Natya Puraskar winner - Dr. Kanak Rele (famous Mohiniyattam dancer)

14. Music of Mohiniyattam - Manipravala Bhasha Sayings

15. Book mentioning the mudras (24) of Mohiniyattam - Hastalakshandeepika

16. First M.A. in Mohiniyattam - Dr. Sunanda Nair

17. Works mentioning Mohiniyattam - Vyavaharamala (Mazhamangalam Narayanan Namboothiri), Ghoshayatra (Kunchan Nambiar)