Bharati Shivaji chose Mohiniyattam at a time when the dance form had been sidelined and neglected. She felt that mohiniyattam was given step-motherly treatment and was not treated on a par with the other classical dance forms. Bharati took it upon herself to revive, promote and popularise the dance form.
Bharati's efforts have turned around the fortunes of mohiniyattam. "Slowly but swiftly, mohiniyattam has changed for the better and is gaining acceptance among the people and I see a lot of young people taking to the dance form as well. It has begun moving at the same pace as all the other classical dance forms," Bharati tells Metrolife prior to her performance in the City.
Bharati dedicates a substantial part of her spare time to research and unearth facts about mohiniyattam. "The results of my efforts to popularise the dance form in the last 30 years are showing only now," she says.
Why has Bharati stuck to the stage and not explored the screen? "It's a concious decision to keep away from the screen. The glamour and money on the big screen never really attracted me. I am more keen to promote the dance form. Dance is an internal experience and I don't want to dilute that feeling," shares Bharati.
Bharati has seen and experienced the struggles involved in giving mohiniyattam a respectable place. "The journey hasn't been an easy one and even today I am confronted with challenges at every step but I am willing to go through the grind if mohiniyattam gets its rightful place," she adds.
She feels the young are interested and committed to taking up mohiniyattam but they need to be groomed and moulded into the art.
Bharati learnt mohiniyattam the hard way and this is what she has to say about her experience of learning and teaching the dance form. "Mohiniyattam literally teaches you how to discipline your body and mind," she signs off.