In conversation: Deepti Omchery Bhalla with Sreenath Nair

In this interview, the speaker recounts their early dance journey rooted in Kathakali under the guidance of Guru Keshavan Nambuthiri, a celebrated performer of Parasurama in Delhi’s Ramaleela . Encouraged by their parents to remain connected to Kerala’s cultural heritage, they began formal training at the International Centre for Kathakali (1961–62) under Punnathur Madhava Panikkar and later studied with eminent masters such as Sadanam Nandakumar, Guru Gopinath, Sadanam Balakrishnan and Nelliyode Vasudevan Nambuthiri. Performing alongside Kathakali legends, including Kochu Govindan Pillai, the speaker played leading roles like Damayanti in Nala Damayanti (1970s, Delhi). Her lifelong association with the art form culminated in a commemorative performance during the 2018 golden jubilee of the Kathakali Centre, New Delhi. Omchery Bhalla recounts their first Mohiniyattam performance in 1978 and the subsequent evolution of their artistic journey. Realizing the importance of appropriate percussion, they replaced the maddalam with mridangam and edaikka , blending Kerala folk and temple rhythms to enhance the dance’s delicacy. Focusing on enriching rather than altering dance and musical traditions, she researched and choreographed rare musical forms such as Tyaani , Nritya Prabandhams , Dandakam and Talamalika Padam thereby expanding the Mohiniyattam repertoire while preserving its essence. Mastery over tala enabled Omchery Bhalla to incorporate both classical and ritualistic rhythmic patterns, earning wide recognition national and internationally. Her scholarly contributions include several published works documenting Kerala’s laasya and temple dance traditions.