Third time’s the charm for Mahalakshmi. The Kalathilakam title in the University of Kerala’s youth festival came beckoning the actor/dancer in her third attempt. That doesn’t meaning she did not perform up to the mark in the previous two.
She amassed a score of 21 to claim the title in Chengannur that slipped off her hands by a thinnest margin of one point in the past year. The demure damsel maintains composure and stays away from singing her own praises. On the very next day of the valedictory ceremony, Mahalakshmi got back to her studies and nothing makes her happier than the college life for the time being.
“It’s a double delight as we (Mar Ivanios College) are the overall champions. My college mates, as they did last year, gave me a chendamelam welcome to the college. Certainly too much affection is showered upon me,” smiles Mahalakshmi.
An adept classical dancer, Mahalakshmi has always won laurels in the dance stages of youth fests. In this edition, she restricted her performance to Bharatanatyam and folk dance and preferred other stage programmes such as mono act, kathaprasangam and mimicry— bagging three firsts and two second places.
“Plans hardly work out in the fest venues every year. Scheduled timings change drastically, by up to five hours sometimes. I used to wait hours in one particular make-up with heavy hair-do and if it is night sleeplessness is assured. When one performance gets over, it would be time for the other,” she explains.
Mahalakshmi says her ‘first love’ is Bharatanatyam and she started learning it when she was three. She is skilled at mohiniyattom, kuchipudi, nangyarkoothu and Kerala natanam as well. Acting has taken a backseat from the time she joined the college to pursue her bachelors in English Language and Literature. The only ongoing on-screen appearance to name is her vampire avatar in the teleserial ‘Shivakami.’
“I am enjoying the campus life in every way. Offers came and owing to studies I did not take it up. I do continue learning dance and when I get free time, I assist my cousin’s dance class. My course is about to be over. Post exams, I plan to spend time with my brother’s family in Chennai,” says Mahalakshmi. The bucket list can wait to be filled.
