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Monkey See, Monkey Do, Seetha Says Boo
A Comical Narrative
Performers
Humour and elegance share the stage!
Lakshmi Girish and Parvathi Jayaram, a newly formed duo, explore a classical form through a modern lens. Inspired by the Subhashitha Ratnabhandagaram, this performance offers a satirical retelling of an encounter between two mischievous monkey wives and Seetha, reframing an epic moment through humour and surprise.
This evening showcases a rarely explored comic register of Mohiniyattam: hasyam. Synonymous with grace and lyricism, Mohiniyattam here is choreographed with a refreshing perspective. Live music featuring mizhavu, vocals, edakka, and flute deepens the rhythmic and narrative play.
Musicians:
Mizhavu (Kerala’s ancient drum) – Kalamandalam Ratheesh Bhas (Kerala,India)
Edakka – Kalamandalam Sarod Kumar (Kerala, India)
Flute – Rakesh Dath (Bangalore, India)
Live carnatic vocals – Harshitha Vidya (Bangalore, India)
Nattuvangam – Vinaya Narayanan (Bangalore, India)
Supported by:
Performers
Lakshmi Girish
Lakshmi Girish is a Mohiniyattam dancer trained in classical dance from the age of five. A postgraduate in Marketing and Finance, she spent seven years in the corporate sector in Delhi and Chennai before transitioning to dance as a full-time pursuit in her thirties. She is also an occasional writer.
Her artistic practice is inclusive, experimental, and research-oriented, with a deep interest in the folk and ritual traditions of Kerala. She believes cultural immersion is vital for the sustainability and preservation of art forms and enjoys translating research into meaningful projects. Lakshmi is currently a Trustee of the Samarpana Mohiniyattam Collective, envisioned by Smt. Vinaya Narayanan.
Parvathi Jayaram
Parvathi Jayaram is a Dublin-based Mohiniyattam practitioner and senior disciple of Smt. Vinaya Narayanan, following the repertoire of Guru Padmashri Bharati Shivaji. Trained initially in Bharatanatyam under Smt. Kalamandalam Girija and Smt. Suma Shyamalan, she also studied Navarasa Sadhana with Guru Venu G at Natanakairali.
Her practice explores intersections between Mohiniyattam and theatre, with a focus on inclusive pedagogy. She is the founder of Idhayā – Haven for Performing Arts, dedicated to preserving and promoting Mohiniyattam, and a co-founder of Parallel Arts, a multidisciplinary collective bridging dance, theatre, and music.
Parvathi’s collaborative works include small joys (James Joyce Centre, Dublin), da.da.da (Scene and Heard New Works Festival, Dublin), Monkey See, Monkey Do, Seetha Says Boo (Bangalore), and Hasya Lasya (Chennai). She is a recipient of the Dance Ireland Residency Award 2024 and the Artist at Work Award at Dublin Fringe Festival 2024.
