Thottassery Chinnammu Amma

🪔 About

Thottassery Chinnammu Amma (born in 1900 in Pazhayannur, Thrissur district, Kerala) was a pivotal figure in the revival and preservation of Mohiniyattam, a classical dance form from Kerala, India. She received her early training in Mohiniyattam under renowned gurus such as Kalamozhi Krishna Menon, A. Krishna Panicker of Koratty, and T. Narayanan Nair, completing her studies by the age of thirteen. In the early 20th century, Mohiniyattam was on the verge of extinction. Poet Vallathol Narayana Menon, founder of Kerala Kalamandalam, faced significant challenges in finding teachers to revive the art form. After a performance by Chinnammu Amma on Vallathol's birthday in 1950, she was invited to join Kerala Kalamandalam as a Mohiniyattam teacher. Despite having partially forgotten her repertoire due to a hiatus, she diligently recollected and taught the foundational elements, including adavus (basic steps), cholkettu, and jatiswarams in ragas like Chenchurutty and Todi. Her instruction, often described as maternal, emphasized perseverance and contributed significantly to systematizing the dance form, distinguishing it from Bharatanatyam and Kathakali. Chinnammu Amma retired from Kerala Kalamandalam in 1963. Her efforts were instrumental in establishing a structured syllabus for Mohiniyattam, adapting traditional elements for modern pedagogical needs while preserving the art form's aesthetic and technical integrity. She is recognized for bridging hereditary knowledge with institutional revival, influencing broader pedagogical approaches in Indian classical dances. Thottassery Chinnammu Amma passed away on August 4, 1977. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1972), Institutional Honor.