Kalamandalam Sathyabhama’s controversial remarks: Kerala human rights commission takes suo motu case against Mohinyattam exponent

Kerala State human rights commmission investigates classical dancer Kalamandalam Sathyabhama’s alleged racist remarks, sparking outrage and condemnation from political leaders and activists.

The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has taken cognisance of classical dancer Kalamandalam Sathyabhama’s allegedly racist attempt to set fair complexion and agreeable looks as prerequisites for learning and performing Mohinyattam, a traditional dance form.

SHRC member V.K. Bina Kumari has sought a report from the Culture and Police departments. Based on media reports, the SHRC registered a case on March 22 (Friday). It has also accepted a complaint from human rights activists.

Ms. Sathyabhama’s vocalised bid, in a social media channel interview, to “preclude dark-skinned persons” from comprehending and staging the classical art form had caused public outrage and drawn censure from the ruling Left Democratic Front, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala.

The controversial remarks snowballed into a major controversy with another Mohinyattam exponent, R.L.V. Ramakrishnan, accusing Ms. Sathyabhama of cruelly discriminating against classical artistes who hail from marginalised and downtrodden sections of society, including himself.

Higher Education Minister R. Bindu, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, and BJP Kerala State president K. Surendran seconded Mr. Ramakrishnan’s argument and said that “art knew no caste, colour, creed, or religious boundaries.”

The leaders condemned Ms. Sathyabhama’s remarks, alleging they were “distasteful, casteist and had no space in a modern and progressive society.”

The controversy also figured prominently on social media and television talk shows.