Rhythm In Her Veins, Step Lightly

Rubiya’s family—father Alavikutty, mother Amina, a brother and a sister— have been facing the mahallu wrath for the past 12 years. Alavikutty, an ex-stage artiste, is distraught: "The mahallu leadership condoned my dalliance with the stage. But my daughter’s dance classes have offended them.... They have been denying us (mahallu) membership." Amina says it was she who put her daughter in dance class. "I don’t regret it. We nurtured her talent...but we’ve had to pay a heavy price. I’m a cancer patient. The mahallu leadership has ensured that all official help during the festive occasions bypassed us. If I die today, where will my husband bury me? And will the mahallu endorse my daughter’s marriage?" asks Amina.

Young Rubiya, though, shows a steadfast resolve. The obvious question is over her views on religion and dance. She reasons that "God is one. When I pay obeisance through mudras, I’m imploring not just the Hindu Bhagvan but the supreme creator. It just happens that we call him by different names." K.P. Raihemath, the teacher who takes her to competitions, says there’s nothing un-Islamic in Bharatanatyam. "If she were my own daughter, I would still want her to dance."