“Why can’t we have Kathakali performances that speak about gender, employment, displacement...? Why shouldn’t performers of traditional arts join hands to work on new productions that are relevant and appeal to new audiences?” asks Mallika Sarabhai, Chancellor of Kerala Kalamandalam, a deemed university and performing arts centre.
In addition to starting gender sensitisation classes for students, Mallika wants to “broaden the scope and vision of the institution and erase caste, class and gender barriers from Kalamandalam”.
New productions in Kathakali that integrate modern theatre techniques, setting up of departments for research to study intersectional subjects such as Anthropology and Physiology of dance, and research subjects that are not confined to performative aspects of traditional art forms and lateral admissions are some of the additions and modifications that the new Chancellor hopes to implement.
