Dance is like meditation for me: Parvathy Jayaram

Parvathy Jayaram, once a top actress in Malayalam movies, shunned the arc lights after getting married to actor Jayaram. But, she is back to her first love — dancing! Having settled in Chennai, Parvathy is a well-known Mohiniyattam danseuse and has performed in Kerala many times. With Vishu around the corner, she, for the first time, is performing a solo Mohiniyattam recital in Chennai for a cause at the Narada Gana Sabha on April 15 — the proceeds of which will go to a foundation (BIFAC) run by eminent dancer Padma Subrahmanyam. Parvathy speaks to DC about passion for dance and her decision to quit acting. “Dance is like meditation. I have been performing Mohiniyattam for long, and even as I was busy in films, I continued my dance programmes. Name any of the prestigious dance festivals of Kerala — I would have performed there!” Parvathy begins her conversation.

Speaking about her first-ever solo performance in Chennai, she says, “I have danced in a group, but this will be my debut single Mohiniyattam effort, and I am rehearsing a lot for it. It will be a one-and-a-half-hour show, where I perform the lasyangam form, in which it is necessary to bring forth the lasyam (expression of joy or happiness) in each angam (body). When queried if she would make a comeback to films, her firm answer is ‘never’! “I did films because of my parents, as they wanted to see me shine on screen. But dance has always been my passion. I get engrossed in it, and get my act right when I perform on stage though there are hundreds of spectators. But, when it comes to films, with so many people around, I always had inhibitions while shooting. I don’t think I would ever want to make a comeback to films.”

However, she says that her priorities have changed after getting married to Jayaram. “I want to look after my children and family, which is taking a lot of time. My guru Kalamandalam Kshemavathy comes to Chennai for five-six days a month and a group of disciples practice with her. She always tells me, ‘there’s no point in rehearsing and practicising every day, until one performing in front of audiences’. So, this is the right start.” Speaking about Jayaram, who is a pillar of support for her endeavours, she says, “Without his encouragement, I wouldn’t have come this far. He is one person who always motivated me in my ventures.” Being a grounded person, Parvathy says that she never gets carried away with stardom, and has also advised her son the same. “I feel so proud that my son Kalidas made it nationally, even as a child artiste. We are all waiting for his first movie Oru Pakka Kadhai’s release. But, all said and done, I have explained to him the pros and cons of the film industry, and that one should be prepared for anything. It’s an uncertain field.”

It’s quite surprising that, unlike her parents, the star couple’s daughter Malavika, a second year college student, is actually inclined towards sports! She’s  plays football in the local league matches and also also attends several athletic coaching classes in a sports venue.