Singing the Mohini Attam

The Indian dancer Brigitte Chataignier has tastefully recorded and compiled an album highlighting the music of the dance Mohini Attam (or Mohiniyattam). Regarded as one of the classical dance genres in India, it is deeply rooted in the folk and ritualistic tradition of Kerala. Unlike other Indian dances it is nearly exclusively danced by women, emphasises the lasya or feminine movements, expressed in the more graceful, devotional and even erotic rasas (moods) and mainly executed with slower movements. The dance is always accompanied by musicians, who provide a relative independent musical flavour through intricate singing, sensitive lyrics and a range of often unusual rhythmic and melodic patterns. In the Thrissur district alone, where this album was recorded, there must be around 3,000 skilled musicians. Two of them are the singers Vamanan Namboodiri introducing the Karnatic style, while Kalamandalam Jaya Prakash sings in Sopana. Sopana is regarded as a quintessential Kerala vocal style deeply rooted in devotional traditions.

Unlike Karnatic music it is musically less structured and it emphasises the expression of rasas through raga (melody) and lyrics. The singers are accompanied by a Karnatic music ensemble to which the itakka (a Keralan talking drum) adds exciting percussive flavour. Comprehensive information and translations make this amazing album a complete listening experience.