At noon, Priya Manoj is waiting for her train to Kollam. She is in Kerala for vacation, and for her, vacation is the time for long-pending temple visits. Born and brought up at Kuttippuram in Malappuram and currently living in Abu Dhabi, Priya’s own home is in Thrissur. “I chose Thrissur for my home as it is a cultural hub. Also, I studied in Kerala Varma College. I have an affinity towards Thrissur,” says a smiling Priya, who worked as a literature teacher in Abu Dhabi for 16 years.
In fact, it was her Abu Dhabi life that brought Priya back to dance. As a student, she was also compelled to focus more on studies. “I would take part in competitions. Although, I was serious about dance, I couldn’t pursue it wholly as studies were more important. But, things changed once I reached Abu Dhabi in 2001. My passion for dance rekindled and I seriously restarted performances in 2011,” recalls Priya. Meanwhile, she did MFA in Bharatanatyam. In Abu Dhabi, Priya teaches both Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam. However, she spends more time on Mohiniyattam.
“I chose Mohiniyattam as there is a common belief that it is slow and not enjoyable as other dance forms. Hence, I experiment with Mohiniyattam,” explains Priya. Her recent 50-minute long Mohiniyattam solo production Krishnaa, launched on July 20, was a great success. Earlier, she had done a Bharatanatyam production — Navarasa Mayan. For Priya, dance is not only an entertaining form but also a tool to impart values in society. “Things haven’t changed much. Our children are really talented but they are not allowed to follow their heart’s call. It is because parents have no idea how an art form refreshes a child’s brain. It stirs their creativity and reduces stress. Hence, I did research in ‘education and art’,” says Priya, who does own research in Mohiniyattam under the guidance of Narayanan.
“Another aspect of my experiments is to inculcate values through dance. That culminated in composing Krishnaa that portrays the divine friendship between Lord Krishna and Draupadi. It narrates Draupadi’s questions to Krishna and his advice to her.”Krishnaa’s maiden performance was in Guruvayoor and then it was staged in Hyderabad. Priya made sure not to disturb the classical format much while experimenting. “I have tried to bring the difference in the Abhinaya part,” she says. “I was so happy after my performance in Hyderabad because even non-Malayalis could enjoy it. Appreciation plays a crucial role in dance,” concludes Priya, who is already on her next mission.
