She dances, breaks barriers of religion

Jahnara Rahman, a plus-two student, loves oppana and performs Kathakali. But her passion is Nangiar Kooth, a traditional classical dance of Kerala. 
She comes from Vadakkanchery village, which was the home of another Muslim artiste, the legendary Kathakali singer Kalamandalam Hyderali. On October 23, Jahnara’s first public performance will be staged in her native village.

“I took inspiration from Sanskrit literature, which I studied as a second language in school,” says Jahnara.

“I am a performer of Kathakali and Koodiyattam, and Nangiar Kooth is another means of self realisation for me,” she added.

Jahnara has been learning and practising classical dance and music since she was three years old. For her debut, Jahnara will choreograph perform Chedipurappad, the story of Subadhra and her maid.

Nangiar Koothu is said to be the oldest women’s theatre form in existence; it is 1200 years old. In 1956, Paimkulam Rama Chakyar took Koodiyattam out of the temple into the public domain. His student, Kalamandalam Girija, created history by performing the ancient art outside the temple.

Women from the Nangiar community traditionally perform Nangiar Kooth, so it’s rare for someone like Jahnara to become a practitioner of this art. 

Source: deccanchronicle