Have you ever come across the collection of reels in which young women draped in saris are seen performing on a staircase or outside a campus? MA Mohiniyattam students of Sreesankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, are now not just the stars of their campus but also on social media, thanks to their 'Machanum Pillerum' page. Since 2021, their Instagram profile has amassed more than 1.5 lakh followers.
“As the group consists of young women, the name 'Machanum Pillerum' may seem a little odd. We call each other 'Machane' and have named our WhatsApp group the same. Nothing sounded better than 'Machanum Pillerum' when the idea to start an official page eventually came up,” said Anamika Raj, a member of the dance group.
The group, which initially posted on their personal social media accounts videos of their graceful performances wearing uniform saris, later caught the attention of netizens. “We moved to Instagram and Facebook shortly after TikTok was banned, where we had previously posted short videos. It gave us a good reach, added another student, Varsha Pramod.
The group discusses and plans their song selection, choreography, and shoot schedules during their free time on the campus. Most of the time, they conduct their shoots early in the morning before their classes. “Teachers are our biggest support system. They are our cheerleaders, making recommendations for music and dance moves, and occasionally assisting us with our shoots,” remarked Tiji Joseph D Silva.
Krishnendu N P mentioned the group's recent collaboration with a renowned textile brand. “It was an exciting opportunity to be a part of the brand's Navaratri special celebration,” she said. The students also mentioned that they were invited to an awards ceremony for social media influencers and got the chance to participate in a programme on a Malayalam channel.
Amidst their academic work, the students manage to post videos twice a week. “We have a tight schedule with exams, assignments, and performing in cultural events organised in our college. Nevertheless, we love making these videos and make time to do our best. Each of these videos is special to us and are moments for us to cherish with our friends,” said Sooryanandana M gleefully, as the women continued their chats for the upcoming reels.
Other members of 'Machanum Pillerum' include Meera K R, Devika Suresh, Anusha K K, Amrutha Sabu, Meenakshy K, Sreelakshmi K, Vyshnavi Sajan, Dhanalakshmi K P, Anagha Manohar, Anusree P, Sreekrishna, Reshma P S, Midhuna Madhu, Varna P M, Arabhi Anil, and Reshmi M Nair.