Kalamandalam finally opens its doors to women

The 90-year-old institution’s historic move brings another long-standing debate to an end

Kathakali actors Renjini Suresh and Dr. Haripriya Namboodiri sound jubilant. The cause they have been championing for long has met with success. The Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed University of Art and Culture has opened its doors to women, and will be given admission to the Kathakali acting course from this academic year.

Renjini perhaps sums up the feelings of all female actors when she says, “Women so far did not have the benefit of an institutional training ground or kalari. What we have achieved as artistes is due to our persistence and hard work along with balancing our education and career. I welcome Kalamandalam’s historic move, however late it has come.”

The impact of the decision is evident from the fact that of the 12 students admitted to the eighth standard Kathakali acting course for the year 2021-22, only three are boys. Six girls and a boy have sought admission to the Vadakkan or Kalluvazhi style and three girls and two boys to the Thekkan or Kaplingadan department. The courses lead up to MA in ten years.