Indian Classic Stars

Madras Music and Dance Season 2008-2009

2008-11-04T22:26:00.002+05:30

Madras Music Season is back with more than 3000 concerts of classical music and dance. For detailed information and festival schedules visit: http://artindia.net/madras08/index.html

Remains of Kiradu temples

2008-08-24T23:00:00.002+05:30

Remains of Kiradu Temple in Barmer, Rajasthan.

Remains of Kiradu temples
Video sent by malabarian

Again with the video option in my tiny nikon still camera I managed to make this rare visuals of unknown Kiradu Temples in Barmer, Rajasthan, India near India-Pakisthan border in Aug 2008. - GS RAJAN

Carnatic raga Amritavarshini by GS RAJAN

2008-05-04T14:19:00.002+05:30

Carnatic raga Amritavarshini by GS RAJAN
Video sent by malabarian

Carnatic Raga - Amritavarshini - a monsoon raga is being improvised in flute by GS RAJAN. Presented in Monsoon Festival organised by Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Government of India in New Delhi in 2007.

Dance and the Dancer, Rama Vaidyanathan

2008-05-02T16:38:00.002+05:30

Dance and the Dancer, Rama Vaidyanathan
Video sent by malabarian

Top ranking exponent of Bharata Natyam, Rama Vaidyanathan speaks about her approach to classical dance. Music/Video compilation by GS RAJAN

Ravi Shankar - tarana - in Bharata Natyam by Rama Vaidyanathan

2008-04-26T10:28:00.002+05:30

Ravi Shankar's 'taraana' in Bharata Natyam by Rama
Video sent by ramaconcerts

Maestro Ravi Shankar's composition - 'taraana' - choreographed and presented in Bharata Natyam by Rama Vaidyanathan in a festival titled 'expressions' conceived and organised by composer-flautist-arts administrator GS RAJAN. Instead of the normal Carnatic music accompanists Rama uses Hindustani musicians in this concert. Video by GS RAJAN

Mayur Alaarippu - Bharata Natyam by RAMA VAIDYANATHAN

2008-04-26T10:02:00.002+05:30

Mayur Alaarippu - Bharata Natyam by RAMA VAIDYANATHAN
Video sent by ramaconcerts

Mayur Alaarippu in 11 beats is a humble contribution of Rama Vaidyanathan to Bharata Natyam. Video by GS RAJAN

Anoushka Shankar Live at Verbier Festival

2008-04-14T23:24:00.003+05:30

Anoushka Shankar Live at Verbier Festival - Mishra Pilu.
Video sent by Mavrika1

Ravi Shankar's daughter, Anoushka, plays live, at Verbier Festival part of a raga "Mishra Pilu".

Sitar: Anoushka Shankar
Violin: Joshua Bell
Tabla: Tanmoy Bose

Saint Thyagaraja

2008-04-14T23:08:00.002+05:30

Thyagarajar
Video sent by Mahameru

Saint Thyagarajar lived in Thiruvaiyaru on the river bank of cauvery.He composed thousands of songs in telugu language in praise of Lord Rama. Every year in January , music festival will be held in thiruvaiyaru . Musicians from all over the world will participate in that event. It is a great music event to view , hear and to enjoy.

Natya Kala Conference 2007

2008-04-14T23:05:00.002+05:30

Natya Kala Conference 2007
Video sent by malabarian

Natya Kala Conference 2007. Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai. Compilation by GS RAJAN

Banners from www.artindia.net

2008-04-14T22:54:00.002+05:30

Banners from www.artindia.net
Video sent by malabarian

Banners constructed and displayed in www.artindia.net by GS RAJAN

Dhruba Ghosh

2008-04-14T22:51:00.002+05:30

dhruba ghosh
Video sent by chiranne

une vidéo de dhruba ghosh un maitre de la vièle d'inde du nord la sarangi! un instrument, qui grâce à la résonance de ses cordes sympathiques, possède une aura vraiment envoûtante :ange:

Madhavi Mudgal - danse indienne

2008-04-14T22:48:00.002+05:30

madhavi mudgal danse indienne
Video sent by chiranne

voilà une vidéo sur le style de danse traditionel indien "odissi" l'un des plus anciens en inde, avec la jeune chorégraphe madhavi mudgal! c'est assez surprenant mais c'est sympa, la musique est très belle, musique traditionnelle d'inde du sud "carnatique" avec un bel exemple du "konakol" ces percussions vocales,
on peut encore une fois remarquer le travail sur le rythme omniprésen t! bref j'aime bien! :ange:

Sudha Raghunathan - chants carnatiques

2008-04-14T22:47:00.002+05:30

suda ragunathan chants carnatiques
Video sent by chiranne

"Sudha Ragunathan est l'une des jeunes chanteuses les plus en vue de la musique karnatique, cet art pratiqué dans l'Inde du Sud et vierge de toute influence musulmane. Elle a été élevée dans une famille de musiciens, commençant l'apprentissage de cette musique exigeante avec sa mère, Smt. Choodamani. Elle multiplie depuis les tournées internationales et se produit régulièrement sur les ondes de All India Radio."

http://www.accords-croises.com/fr/accueil.php
:ange:

India Related Videos

2008-04-06T01:13:00.001+05:30

Collection of over 50 videos

2008-03-24T23:57:00.001+05:30

I collect with vodpod

Videos of Veterans such as Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Kumar Gandharva, KV Narayanaswami, KB Sudarambal to Bombay Jayashri and U Shrinivas. Malavika Sarukkai, Sonal Mansingh, Madhavi Mudgal and many others

Malavika Sarukkai - Bharata Natyam Video

2008-03-13T23:25:00.001+05:30

Rama Vaidyanathan - clipping from LA

2008-03-13T13:45:00.002+05:30

A short clipping of Rama's show in Los Angeles, USA

GS RAJAN - Ahilya Fort

2008-02-29T09:00:00.004+05:30

My performance photograph from a concert at Ahilya Fort, Meheshwar in Feb 2008.

Mudgal Family

2008-02-19T23:01:00.004+05:30

Hindustani voclaist Madhup Mudgal, his sister and eminent exponent of odissi, Madhavi Mudgal, his daugter and Odissi dancer Arushi and others will be featured in a special programme at Theatre de la Ville in Paris, France in May 2008. This is perhaps for the first time that all the Mudgal family coming together on stage. A great occasion indeed.

GS RAJAN - Flute Alaap - Amrita Varshini

2008-01-19T12:38:00.001+05:30

Flute alaap in raaga Amrita Varshini

GS RAJAN - Flute Alaap - Kharaharapriya

2008-01-17T22:57:00.000+05:30

Alaap in raaga Kharaharapriya by GS RAJAN. Presented in a festival held at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi, India in 2007 organised by Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Govt. of India.

Narendra Sharma No More

2008-01-17T22:50:00.000+05:30

Veteran modern dancer and choreographer Narendra Sharma passed away at his residence in New Delhi on 15 Jan 2008. Narendra Sharma was the last link with father of modern dance in India, Uday Shankar.

My Happy Moments 1

2008-01-01T03:03:00.001+05:30

When the curtain went up at my concert at Brahma Gana Sabha on 24 Dec 2007 at 4.30pm I got a shock but felt honoured to see Veteran musician TK Govinda Rao, Art Promoters Nalli Kuppuswami and Natarajan, Dancer Anita Ratnam and others in the first row. Below: A picture of mine with TK Govinda Rao and A Natarajan taken after the concert.

GS RAJAN

Natya Kala Conference 2007

2008-01-01T02:32:00.000+05:30

Natya Kala Conference organised by Krishna Gana Sabha as part of the December festival season in Chennai saw few people attending the lecture demonstrations this year. The theme for 2007 was sangeetham in dance - music in dance. Strange that convenor Bharati Shivaji did not invite a single music composer to present a paper. Nevertheless some of the presentations like Manipuri, Chhau, Nangiarkoothu etc. were educational for dance students of Chennai. Here are some pictures I took during conference days.

GS RAJAN

Convenor of Natya Kala Conference and exponent of Mohiniattam Bharati Shivaji.

Exponent of Kathak Uma Sharma inugurated the conference with her key note address.

Dance historian Sunil Kothari and GS Rajan

Preeti Patel, Exponent of Manipuri

Madras Music Season 2007

2007-11-20T13:11:00.000+05:30

To view or make print outs of the festival schedules of Madras Music Season you may visit: http://artindia.net/madras2007/index.html

Dancing after 45 An article by GS RAJAN

2007-11-15T16:09:00.000+05:30

Some sections of the print media reported that the petition filed by the 60-year old Bharata Natyam dancer, Komala Varadan asserting that her name should be under the performing artists' category and not under lecture-demonstration category of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations was rejected by Justice AK Sikri. The ruling pointed out that the rule of the organization being challenged does not allow a dancer above 45 years of age to give performances.

This ruling might have the made the officials of the ICCR, a Government sponsored organization under the Ministry for External affairs, happy since this organization is responsible for sending musicians and dancers to various countries to strengthen cultural relations. (Has the ICCR been strictly adhering to this rule?) However this judgement will indeed spark-off a strong opposition among the classical dancers in India.

There are two sides to this rule. It is different when old dancers perform in India because the audience knows the mythological stories they enact and appreciate the nuances and bhakti rasa which a dancer is able to portray after years of experience and maturity. However these aspects are not relevant at all when they dance abroad. How can they know Tamil padams or Surdas bhajans? It is perfect body and movements that matter for audiences abroad.

Exponent of Bharata Natyam Geeta Chandran points out: "It is body that matters for dancers and audiences abroad, and not the mind. I have seen Leela Samson and Alarmel Valli at their best after 45". Instead of not sending old dancers abroad we should make foreign audiences understand the Indian context. This issue needs to be debated.

Shanta Sarbjeet Singh, senior dance critic and committee member of the Sangeet Natak Akademi remarks: Dancers who are near being senior citizens should diversify into full time gurus using their great experience and knowledge towards the young and the new generation. They can do reserch work in many hidden areas of the classical arts. I applaud the judgement of Justice Sikri in the context of it being focussed on presenting classical dance abroad.

Senior most dance critic Subbudu says 'Natya Shastra prescribes very rigid standards for a dancer's personality. They are more strict than international basic standard. Age certainly has an adverse effect on dancers, both female and male. As the ICCR and the court have correctly said, those dancers above the age of 45 can give lecture-demonstrations instead of solo dance performances. Otherwise dancers with disappropriate bodies would invite demostrations outside the auditorium'.

There is another angle to this issue that needs to be looked into. Supposing the dancer retires after the age of 45, will the Government take care of their expenses? While India boasts of its cultural heritage, it is a fact that the country does not have a clear-cut cultural policy. Such issues will crop up till the Ministry of Culture formulates the much-needed cultural policy.

If the Sangeet Natak Akademi has the authority to decide whether an art form is classical or not (recently SNA announced that Sattriya of Assam will henceforth be a classical dance form), why should not this so-called apex body draft a cultural policy for the nation? Perhaps they are busy organizing festivals to celebrate the golden jubilee.

Can the Zonal Cultural Centres do something? No. Because IAS officers head them who might not even know the difference between Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi.

There is no hope even if the Government makes a committee to look into this matter. After spending so much money on the high-powered Haksar Committee, which looked into the functioning of Government sponsored cultural bodies, no one bothered to implement the recommendations made by the Haksar Committee.

It is time that the dancers who refuse to retire even after 60 realize the harm they are doing to the art form and to themselves. They should instead promote themselves to gurus, experts and researchers and contibute to the development of classical arts. They can start dance companies and present choreographic works, conduct lecture-demonstrations, guide the young and be happy.

However only time will tell whether rules or rulings will be implemented or not by Government cultural bodies. As long as the term 'exceptional' exists in the Government of India, even a 70-year-old dancer might find a place in international dance festivals representing India. Since some of the leading dancers have polititian boyfriends; officials will be happy to process the file saying: 'may be considered as an exceptional case'. Like they say: Rules are for fools.

by GS RAJAN

Kalpana Raghuraman

2007-11-14T20:47:00.000+05:30

Kalpana, a trained Bharata Natyam dancer is an intelligent artist. Saw her choreographic works while I was visitng Amsterdam in October 2007. I was amazed at the way she interpreted her chosen medium of expression. Her ability to fuse styles and forms in right measure indeed impressed me. A Ranjabati in the making?

K J Yesudass

2007-11-13T22:17:00.000+05:30

KJ Yesudass, the golden voice of India is a disciple of maestro Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. He has sung songs for more than 3000 feature films, innumerable albums, Cds. Cent percent blessed by all the Gods of the world.

Avinash Pasricha

2007-11-13T22:10:00.000+05:30

Avinash Pasricha. This ace photographer is perhaps the only one in India who has seen almsot all the classical dancers and musicians so closely through his lens.

Ashish Khokar

2007-11-13T22:06:00.000+05:30

Ashish Khokar is the editor of 'attendance' The only dance annual publlished in India. He is a dance historian like his father Mohan Khokar who was working as assistant secretary with Sangeet Natak Akademi - National academy of music, dance and drama of India.

Ranjabati Sircar

2007-11-13T21:55:00.000+05:30

Here are some pictures of Ranjabati. I will never be able to forget her dancing and her wonderful personality. She decided to end her life in her early thirtees.

Ranjabati Sircar

2007-11-13T21:32:00.000+05:30

Ranjabati will be ever remembered for her outstanding experimental dancing. Unfortunate that she died at an young age.

Astad Deboo

2007-11-13T21:28:00.001+05:30

Astad Deboo is a top ranking innovative modern dancer of India. His experimental choreographic productions are always an experience to watch.

Arushi Mudgal

2007-11-13T20:10:00.000+05:30

Arushi Mudgal is one of the most promising and talented young dancer in Odissi. She is the daughter of vocalist Madhup Mudgal and disciple of her aunty and exponent of Odissi Madhavi Mudgal.

TN Seshagopalan

2007-11-13T20:07:00.001+05:30

Veteran Vocalist TN Seshagopalan receives the 'sangeetha Kalanidhi' award from The Madras Music Academy for the year 2007.

Rukmini Devi Arundale

2007-11-12T23:47:00.000+05:30

Some pictures of Rukmini Devi Arundale:

Rukmini Devi Arundale

2007-11-12T00:18:00.000+05:30

Without Rukmini Devi Arundale, I dont think Bharata Natyam would have reached this stage. She will be ever remembered for her contribution not only to arts in general but also to innumerable activities she undertook as a parliamentarian. It was she who introduced the Animal Welfare Act in Indian Parliament. Unfortunately this country refused to call the act as Rukmini Devi Act. Kalakshetra, the great institution she founded still stands like an elephant but without following her principles and ideas.

This photograph was taken when I was a student at Kalakshetra.

Ali Akbar Khan

2007-11-12T00:09:00.001+05:30

Along with Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan also performed the world over propagating Indian classical music. Son of the doyen of Hindustani music Baba Allauddin Khan, Ali Akbar Khan's playing of the Sarod is mesmerising. Ali Akbar Khan's sister Annapurna Devi, a maestro in playing the surbhahar was the first wife of Ravi Shankar.

Photograph: Me with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Tapan

Yehudi Menuhin

2007-11-12T00:07:00.001+05:30

When one talks about Violin, the first name comes to mind is of Lord Yehudi Menuhin. Great maestro Yehudi Menuhin was alo a great composer and conductor.

Amjad Ali Khan

2007-11-12T00:04:00.001+05:30

A great maestro who popularised Sarod the world over. Ustadji inaugurated www.artindia.net when I launched this first portal on Indian classical arts in 1988.

Ravi Shankar

2007-11-12T00:00:00.000+05:30

The man who took Indian classical music to the entire globe, RAVI SHANKAR popularly known as Panditji is a maestro of maestros. I got an opportunity to work closely with him when he invited me to help him establish Ravi Shankar Centre in New Delhi.

Zubin Mehta

2007-11-11T23:51:00.000+05:30

I respect maestro Zubin Mehta. What a great musician and conductor. Besides everything else what a great human being.

Photographs: Zubin Mehta conducting an orchestra and the other picture was taken when he attended my (GS RAJAN) concert in Munich, Germany in 2002.

Amala

2007-11-11T23:32:00.000+05:30

Very few may remember that Amala who rose to fame when she became a heroine in films was an excellent Bharata Natyam dancer. She was a student of Sarada Hoffman at Kalakshetra and Rukmini Devi herself has encouraged her to participate in dance-dramas as well as solo dance presentations. I still remember her coming to Kalakshetra riding her cycle everyday.

I must mention here that she is another person who is down to earth. Once I was walking through the busy street near Murundeshwara Temple in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai while I was a student at Kalakshetra. By then Amala had left Kalakshetra. I was crossing the road suddently a car came a stopped next to me. Amala got down and started chatting with me. People started looking at their heroine stading in the middle of the road chatting with an ordinary dark skinned monkey looking individual. I told Amala that she better go or all the people will surround her. She siad ok and got into the car and asked to join her for tea. I didnt go for tea and that was the last time I met her. Today she is known for her hardwork in protecting animal life. Wish she had come back to Bharata Natyam.

Suphala

2007-11-10T23:17:00.000+05:30

Suphala. This young Tabla player will soon make a mark in the field of music.

Suphala

2007-11-10T22:59:00.000+05:30

Suphala is young but a great Tabla player. Here is a video of Suphala.

Birju Maharaj

2007-11-10T22:57:00.001+05:30

An interesting video where Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj plays the Tabla

Priyadarshini Govind - Video

2007-11-10T22:32:00.000+05:30

This is dance video of Priyadarshini Govind. However it starts with an young dancer unknown to me.

Rama Vaidyanathan

2007-11-10T21:51:00.000+05:30

Here is a Bharata Natyam video of Rama Vaidyanathan

Priya Venkataraman

2007-11-10T21:38:00.000+05:30

Priya Venkataraman is one among the most promising Bharata natyam dancers. A disciple of Saroja Vaidyanathan and later Kanaka Srinivasan, Priya's performances are worth watching.

Uma Muralikrishna

2007-11-10T21:28:00.000+05:30

Uma Muralikrishna has a great personality on stage. Her Kuchipudi recitals are pleasing with elegant movements and grace.

Neena Prasad

2007-11-10T21:24:00.000+05:30

Neena Prasad with her made a name for her in the field of Mohiniattam in a very short span. Her performance at the Madras Music Academy in 2006 was noticed by people who are highly musical and the critics gave her a superb review.

TM Krishna

2007-11-10T21:21:00.000+05:30

TM Krishna is another popular vocalist belonging to the Carnatic system of Indian classical music.

Shubhendra Rao

2007-11-10T21:16:00.000+05:30

Shubhendra is a disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar. Today Shubhendra is a popular Sitar player. He married a musician from Europe, Saskia Rao - de Haas who plays the violin-Cello.

Lalitya Munshaw

2007-11-10T18:28:00.000+05:30

Lalitya Munshaw's fascination with music started at the age of six. Her parents encouraged her to participate in the programs of religious music and recognized her musical talent early on. Initially her interest was focused on singing Bhajans but it soon encompassed Hindustani Classical Music. The classical training proved to be a platform for her forays into musical territories of Ghazals, Geet, Thumri, Fusion besides aiding her development of Bhajans.

Urmila Satyanarayanan

2007-11-10T16:43:00.000+05:30

Urmila has captured the eyes of critics and rasikas in a very short span and is considered one among the best Bharata Natyam dancers of this generation.

Surupa Sen

2007-11-10T16:29:00.000+05:30

Surupa is another excellent exponent and choreographer of Odissi. She is attached with Nrityagram in Bangalore.

Madhup Mudgal

2007-11-10T16:20:00.000+05:30

Madhup Mudgal is one of the top ranking vocalists belonging to the Hindustani system of Indian classical music. He heads Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya in New Delhi founded by his late father and maestro Vinay Chandra Maudgalya.

Alarmel Valli

2007-11-10T16:13:00.000+05:30

Alarmel Valli is another top ranking exponent of Bharata Natyam who has captured the audience worldwide.

Dhruba Ghosh

2007-11-10T03:22:00.000+05:30

The spontaneous power of Dhruba Ghosh's Sarangi playing and artistic calibre can be gauged from the fact that after one of his performances, the world famous cellist Maestro Mstislav Rostropovich rushed to the stage to hug Dhruba.

Madhavi Mudgal and Alarmel Valli Jugalbandi

2007-11-10T03:11:00.000+05:30

Madhavi Mudgal and Alarmel Valli, two popular dancers belonging to Odissi and Bharata Natyam respectively have done succesful duets in India and abroad.

Anoushka Shankar

2007-11-10T03:05:00.000+05:30

Daughter of the veteran sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, Anoushka is a talented and innovative upcoming musician.

Sudha Raghunathan - Pics

2007-11-10T02:59:00.000+05:30

Sudha Raghunathan

2007-11-10T02:46:00.001+05:30

Sudha has a golden touch in her voice which enthralls her listeners from all over the globe. There is tantalizing mystery behind that cherubic smile. Her deep relish for tradition and mystical old-world charm is supremely addictive

Shanta Rati

2007-11-10T02:40:00.001+05:30

Shanta Rati, brings to her dance a pure sense of aesthetics, bolstered by an acute intelligence. The physical features with which nature endowed her – a tall, lissome figure, expressive eyes and face contribute to the effortless beauty and grace of her dancing. Her footwork impeccable, her abhinaya beguiling and her sense of laya and music is excellent”.

Shanta is also a film maker.

Ganesh - Kumaresh

2007-11-10T02:34:00.000+05:30

Ganesh and Kumaresh - Having performed in several top-notch global festivals, their creative idiom is international and their communication through music crosses all boundaries

Jayashri Ramnath

2007-11-10T02:31:00.000+05:30

With a career extending over two decades, Jayashri is today among the most sought after Carnatic musicians. The myriad aficionados, spanning generations, that throng her concerts would bear ample testimony to this

RAMA - Photographs

2007-11-10T02:19:00.001+05:30

Rama received hounour from the President of India.

Rekha - Photographs

2007-11-10T02:15:00.000+05:30

Rekha with Dalai Lama

Shobana - Photographs

2007-11-10T02:03:00.000+05:30

Shobana Receiving the prestigious Padma Shri Award from the President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

Shobana in Concert

A photo of Shobana published in The Hindu national daily and (below) its me (GS RAJAN) with Shobana in Delhi.

Rekha Tandon

2007-11-10T01:39:00.000+05:30

Rekha’s choice of Odissi as a medium of expression stems from her love for its sculptural quality and lyricism. She has explored her subject not only through dance, but also through a study of architecture and art history, in which she has a Bachelor’s degree from the School of Planning and Architecture, and a Master’s degree from the National Museum Institute in New Delhi. This has given her a deep respect and knowledge for its rich historical background.

She now lives and works with her husband and collaborator Michael Weston, dividing her time between Bhuvaneshwar, New Delhi and London

Priyadarshini Govind

2007-11-10T01:27:00.000+05:30

A commerce graduate with a course in Mass Communication behind her, Priyadarshini's vocation is Bharatanatyam. After her arangetram in '74 under the auspices of the Mylapore Fine Arts Club, Madras, she has been performing in all the major festivals/centers in India. She has also travelled extensively in Europe, North America, South Africa and Asia on concert tours.

Priya is one of the most sought after Bharata Natyam dancers today. She has received many awards and honours for her outstanding performances and contribution to the field of Indian classical dance.

BIJAYINI SATPATHY

2007-11-10T01:20:00.000+05:30

Bijayini is one of the most sought after Odissi dancer today. Her precision in movements and skills in abhinaya or expressions are a feast to watch. She is attached with Nrityagram in Bangalore founded by the late bollywood actress and odissi dancer Protima Bedi.

U Shrinivas

2007-11-10T01:09:00.000+05:30

U Shrinivas popularly known as Mandolin Shrinivas is a born genious. Right from his childhood he was famous not only for introducing Mandolin to Carnatic classical music but also for his classicism and prowess.

Madhavi Mudgal

2007-11-10T01:00:00.000+05:30

Madhavi is noted for her excellent presentation and is a very popular exponent of Odissi. A disciple of late guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Madhavi has performed all over the world. Her brother Madhup Mudgal is a very famous Hindustani vocalist and heads Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya in New Delhi. Madhavi is married to designer Vinay Jain.

Madhavi though started her dancing career as a Kathak dancer, took Odissi as her chosen medium of expression though people still talk about her wonderful Kathak duets she did with maestro late Durga Lal.

RAMA VAIDYANATHAN

2007-11-10T00:40:00.000+05:30

Rama Vaidyanathan is perhaps the only student of the veteran Yamini Krishnamurthy to reach the top position in Bharata Natyam solo dancing. Her determination, hardwork, fresh and innovative ideas has made her popular.

I took this photograph using my mobile phone immediately after Rama's performance at the Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai in December 2006. From Left: Rama, Yamini and Rama's mother Madhavi Gopalakrishnan

Yamini Krishnamurthy

2007-11-10T00:28:00.000+05:30

If Ravi Shankar was instrumental in propagating and popularising Hindustani music world wide, Yamini did that for Bharata Natyam. Her electrifying performances will be remembered forever. She is considered the queen of solo Bharata Natyam.

Malavika Sarrukai - Expoenent of Bharata Natyam

2007-11-10T00:14:00.000+05:30

Malavika Sarukkai rose to fame when she was featured at the inaugural ceremony of Festival of India in Japan. The then Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi Dr. VK Narayana Menon and the then Secretary Keshav Kothari were instrumental in showcasing an young dancer for this prestigious event attended by heads of countries in the eightees. Since then there was no looking back for malavika. She took the responsibility with great respect and today she is perhaps the most sought after exponent of Bharata Natyam.

Shobana - Exponent of Bharata Natyam

2007-11-09T23:52:00.000+05:30

Shobana is a leading exponents of Bharata Natyam - Indian classical dance form. She has acted in more than 400 feature films. A very friendly and down to earth human being. More information on Shobana can ve viewed at http://artindia.net/shobana