Mohiniyattam and the Aesthetic Culture of Malayalam- a talk with Dr. Neena Prasad

Abstract

This lecture examines the intimate relationship between Mohiniyattam, Kerala’s classical dance tradition, and the aesthetic culture of Malayalam. Drawing on insights from performance practice, literary traditions, and cultural history, Dr. Neena Prasad explores how Malayalam language, poetry, music, and regional sensibilities have shaped the expressive and lyrical dimensions of the dance form. The talk highlights the ways in which embodied performance serves as a site for the preservation and transmission of Kerala’s cultural imagination, offering a nuanced perspective on the intersections of language, literature, aesthetics, and the performing arts.

About the Speaker

Dr. Neena Prasad is a Mohiniyattam Dancer with a multitude of talents. Proficient in Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Kathakali, she is a leading disciple of Kalamandalam Sugandhi and Padamsri Kalamandalam Kshemavathy. She was awarded a Ph.D. from Rabindra Bharati University, Calcutta, for her thesis on "The concepts of Lasya and Tandava in the classical dances of South India-A detailed Study." The Bharthanjali Academy of Indian Dances in Thiruvananthapuram and Sougandika Centre for Mohinyattam in Chennai have thrived under her patronage. The University of Surrey U K has awarded Dr. Neena Prasad a post-doctoral fellowship for research in Mohiniyattam.

A small reception will begin at 11:30 AM with the talk officially starting at 12:00 PM.

This event is free and open to UT and the general public.