The Vanishing Nayaka

Across India,many male classical dancers voice the same concern. This is ironic considering that men were largely responsible for the codification and formalisation of most Indian classical dances in their modern forms. Amrita Lahiri,head of programming for dance,at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai,says,“Many of the geniuses who have shaped Indian classical dance have,in fact,been male,from Birju Maharaj in Kathak and Kelucharan Mohapatra in Odissi.”

Now,NCPA’s Mudra Dance Week,starting April 26,is set to put the spotlight on the nayaka. It will feature male dancers such as

Pradhan,Sheejith Krishna (Bharatanatyam) and Margi Vijayakumar (Kathakali) as well as female dancers like Shambhavi Vaze (Kathak) and Shobha Korambli (Kuchipudi),who will essay various aspects of the ‘nayaka’.

The need for such attention becomes evident when speaking to Chennai-based Krishna. “A lot of organisers and dance sabhas feel that to attract an audience,you need more glamour and that can only come from women,” he says. Also,men are seen to be the breadwinners in India. In this context,dance becomes a ‘frivolous pursuit’,as earnings are not regular.

What has added to woes of male classical dancers is that traditionally,it’s the nayika whose story enchants both dancers and the audience,as compared to those of nayakas. Could that be why male dancers get fewer opportunities to perform? Lahiri says,“A lot of men portray strong,masculine characters — Lord Shiva is a special favourite. Many have also beautifully performed female roles. A good dancer needs to be gender neutral in his or her performance of a role. Kathakali,for instance,was once performed only by men who essayed both female and male roles.”

Of late,there have been efforts to bring more men into classical dance,with special workshops and festivals. The Marga Darshana festival in Bhubaneswar,initiated by Kelucharan Mohapatra’s dance institute,Srjan,is one example. Another festival which has put the spotlight on male dancers is the Nartaka Dance Festival in Chennai.

Pune-based classical dancer Parimal Phadke began learning Bharatnatyam at the age of four and a half. He has seen a gradual change in the classical dance scenario. He says,“There will be a slow but radical shift in terms of preference for male dancers. It has already begun. Yes,the concept of beauty is still very female oriented,but that in a way,is a blessing for male dancers as they can focus on more serious content instead of chasing popularity. Today,male classical dancers are looking at male characters instead of attempting female characters.”