Renowned Mohiniattam exponent , dance educationist and founder-director of Nalanda Dance Research Centre, Padma Bhushan Dr Kanak Rele, released her latest book "Me and My Mohiniattam" in the presence of celebrated actress, dancer and MP Ms. Hema Malini at Kanak Sabha, Nalanda Dance Research Centre, Juhu on 7th May and other dignitaries.

Dr Kanak Rele vividly narrated her experience as a Mohiniattam dancer, her lifetime contribution in resurrecting and promoting Mohiniatttam at the international level and gave the dance form a new respectability and recognition, as the dance was almost extinct. After learning Kathakali from the veteran actor 'Panchali" Karunakara Panicker, she started learning Mohiniattam from Kalamandalam Rajyalakshmi who joined Nalanda as a mentor, the Ford Foundation grant that enabled her to make a film on the three pioneer mentors of Mohiniattam - Chinnamuamma, Kunjukutty Amma and Kalyani Kutty Ammar and as to how she introduced and discovered her own style of Mohiniattam with the musical guidance rendered by veteran lyricist and music composer Kavlam Narayana Panicker in the Sopanam Sangeetam style and the most memorable feat of introducing bachelors,masters and doctorate degrees in dance and getting it affiliated to the Mumbai University, by establishing Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya.

Dr Kanak Rele said "After marriage to Yatin Rele, we went abroad for higher studies, I obtained a degree in International law from the Manchester University and returned to Mumba. I was offered  a lucrative job in Air India by the great JRD Tata, I refused as I wanted to dance, Yatin was initially reluctant as he wanted me look after my son Rahul and stay at home, I asked him can you stay away from your brothers and sisters, who are so close to you, then how can I stay away from dance, I want to dance, at last he was convinced of my passion to dance".

Hema Malini who was the chief guest on the occasion narrated as to she became aware of Dr Kanak Rele "I started learning Bharata Natyam from Guru Kitappa Pillai as my mother insisted,learnt Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam as well and had heard about Kanakji as my mentor used to come to Nalanda to spend some time here, one day I saw her exquisite performance and was completely mesmerised by the beauty and charm of Kanakji. The book is storehouse of  information and is a must for everyone who wants to know what is Mohiniattam and the significance of classical dance"

Veteran journalist from Kerala, George Paul, who arrived to attend the function said "I know her for so many years and have written so much about Kanak behn. Initially when Kanak introduced her style of Mohiniattam based on Sopanam Sangeetam, it was not readily acceptable, as anything new in Kerala is always criticised but today she holds the supreme position that she won the prestigious award of the Kerala government in the name of Guru Gopinath, this indeed a unique achievement, Today Kanak rele's style of Mohiniattam is accepted internationally"

Published by Purple Peacock books, Kolkata, "Me and My Mohiniattam" is a unique book with foreword by MP Dr Narendra Jadhav, best wishes from Hema Malini, tributes by several disciples and covering a wide spectrum of Dr Kanak Rele's lifetime experience in promoting and propagating the classical dance of Kerala, Mohiniattam 

By Guru Vijay Shanker