Malathy Menon, 80, retains an active mind that makes her seek new creative outlets. A famed Thiruvathira dancer, she is a Limca record holder
Malathy Menon, 80, retains an active mind that makes her seek new creative outlets. A famed Thiruvathira dancer, she is a Limca record holder
Most people shudder at the thought of growing old. Illness, financial instability and loneliness are some of the concerns. But none of these bother Malathy G. Menon. There is joy in her voice when she mentions that it is her 80th birthday, punctuated with a very girlish giggle. Malathy has just returned to Kochi after visiting the famous Guruvayoorappan temple, as is her wont every birthday. She vehemently brushes aside the query if she would like to rest after the journey and talk the next day. On the contrary, she requests an immediate meeting because she has got classes lined up. The octogenarian has been teaching for free the traditional dance form of Thiruvathira to her students comprising of children and homemakers at her home for decades. With a smile she informs, “I also have my chenda (percussion instrument) classes lined up!” Before you bat an eyelid, she continues, “I am also learning to play the keyboard, the edaykka (hour glass shaped drum) in addition to Kathakali and singing classes.”
Looking at her tiny, frail figure it is difficult to comprehend the power source of her unflagging energy or the creative drive but she explains, “Learning is addictive and makes one’s mind agile and alert. I become a child in front of my teachers and cook up excuses if I am unable to attend classes for a day. The thirst to learn new things slows down the proverbial clock because it makes me look forward to the next day, the next avenue.”
Malathy is a woman who has kept up her creative momentum even after her retirement as a teacher and she is perhaps more busy now than ever before. Post retirement, she released a book of Thiruvathira songs and introduced a new form called Pinnal Thiruvathira. Her biggest achievement is being featured in the Limca book of Records when she organised a group of 300 women to perform a mass Thiruvathira. She followed that up with 3,026 participants and got featured in the Asia Book of Records and the Indian Book of Records in 2015. No mean feat for a woman who hailed from a small village Kumbalam in Kochi and who is now hailed as the Thiruvathira Muthashi (the granny of Thiruvathira) for her efforts. She is now busy with the preparations for a very ambitious dream, “In 2017, I want to organise a mass performance of 10,000 people. I have started the groundwork and hope to get the venue too.” She does not do any special exercises because she has no time to spare and mentions that she does not suffer from any ailments.
Just when you wonder ‘what more’, Malathy announces, “I have also acted in four Malayalam films including an upcoming one with superstar Mohanlal. In fact, my scene was canned in a boat and my feet were literally itching to match steps with him but obviously I can’t do what the director has not told me to!” Malathy also shares, “When I acted with young Turk Fahadh Faasil, I had to lie motionless for three hours in a scene where I was acting dead and the crew were worried about me!”
