Story of Courage and Determination- Dr Narthaki Nataraj Padmashri

I am so delighted that Dr Narthaki Nataraj has been conferred Padmashri by Govt of India vide Republic Day honours list 2019. What is so significant about this great civilian honour is that she is the first Transgender to receive the top award. Not just that, it is a saga of struggle all throughout her childhood due to exclusion, derision, social boycott, poverty. She faced everything with true grit but she had one dream - to be a classical Bharatanatyam Dancer. She achieved that with gusto. She did menial jobs for surviving but was focused on her inner urge to dance. In 1984 she compelled the legend Guru Thanjavur Kittappa Pillai to accept her as a student. Yamini Krishnamurti, Vyjayantimala etc were his students.

According to an article from Indian express “It was years before audiences recognised her splendid performances. In 2011, she was honoured with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi award from the President of India, a first for any trans person. At that moment in Delhi, I realised how gifted every human being is. No matter whether we are born as male, female or trans, passion and self-confidence are all it takes".

Narthaki Natraj with C S Pancham at Devi temple Puthur prior to her dance concert .

Along with her friend Shakti Bhaskar, Narthaki Nataraj set up a dance school, Velliyambalam Nadana Kalaikoodam, in Chennai and Madurai. Here, she trains many students from India and abroad in the traditional repertoire of Thanjavur Quartets.

I am blessed and fortunate to know her and when she addresses me as Anna, the whole world becomes so beautiful to me and living very meaningful. As coordinator for SPIC MACAY, I had curated her first ever circuit in Kerala about a year ago and she enthralled youth in several prestige institutions like NIT Calicut, IIT Palghat etc etc. I had curated her dance concert at Puthur Devi temple Palghat in 2017 and she said after the program “ I have been dancing all my life for my livelihood but today I danced for Devi MA and it is Sayoojyam for me”.

Narthaki Amma, I offer my humble Pranams to you. You prevented me from bowing to you but you can’t prevent my heart doing Charan Sparsh to you . You are a great achiever and I wish you many more laurels.

Written by
Sri C.S. Pancham Author is an Art Critic and frequently writes reviews in leading national news papers.

Get updated!
Visit and Like our fb page at : www.facebook.com/wocue

Comments

Prayers through Music, Dr. Bombay Jayashri

S adguru Sainath attained Samadhi on Vijaya Dashami day exactly 100 years ago . In relation to this on 18th Oct. 2018, Vidushi Dr. Bombay will offer the prayers through Music. In August 1918, Shirdi Sai Baba told some of his devotees that he would soon be "leaving his mortal body" . Towards the end of September, he stopped eating. As his condition deteriorated, he asked his disciples to recite holy texts to him and continued to meet visitors. On 15th October 1918, he breathed his last. This year on 18th October 2018, the thithi of Dasami comes after mid day as per Hindu lunar astronomy. Hence Sai Temple all over observe 18th October as Samadhi Centenary.

'Namami Shankaram' : A Predestined Hymn in the Soul’s Journey

A girl whose thoughts were filled with classical dance, when grown up, married into the royal family of Maharaja Sri Swathi Thirunal—whose contributions to Mohiniyattam are priceless, and whose lifetime is considered the golden era of Mohiniyattam. She considers it as a blessing. Now, years later, she has again been handpicked by the Almighty to portray the life of Adi Shankaracharya through dance. In this conversation with Gopika Varma, PSB Nambiar Sooryavamsham explores the inspiration, research, and process behind ‘Namami Shankaram’, a Mohiniyattam portrayal of Adi Shankaracharya’s life. A dancer often senses a spark for a new choreography. Can you tell us how ‘Namami Shankaram’ first took shape in your mind? I was invited to perform for Adi Shankara Jayanthi in Indore in March 2017. I was confused about what to perform. One day, I went to my friend Krithika Subramanian’s house for dinner. Her mother-in-law was reading a commentary on Adi Shankaracharya. I asked her f...

Pollachi Tamil Isai Sangam annual dance fest

A s a part of 33rd annual dance festival by the Pollachi Tamil Isai Sangam, a group of Mohiniyattam dancers from Upaasna akademy of fine arts of Mumbai led by Smt. Sujatha Nair presented a few selected Mohiniyattam items on Sunday 12th August 2018 at the KKG Thirumana mandapa auditorium. Starting with an item in praise of the one tusked Vigneswara they presented a Varnam in ragam Simhendra Madyamam depicting few scenes from Ramayanam like Ahalya moksham, Seeta Swayamvaram and Sabarai Darshanam. While Sujatha Nair did a solo presentation of an ashtapadi from Gitagovindam. The group also presented an item in Ragamaalika, recreating the Vrindavana leelas of Lord Srikrushna. All the items were choreographed by Smt. Jayashree Nair, founder director of Upaasana. Jayashree Nair and her students were felicitated by the Sangam secretary Sri G D Gopalakrishnan.

Violin Maestro, Padmabhushan Sri T.N. Krishnan turns 90

T oday is a red letter day for me as I attended Kanakabhishekam of Prof T N Krishnan Sir and his Dharampatni Smt Kamala Ji on the occasion of 90 th Birth Day celebration of the violin Legend. Amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras, Havan, Pooja to Lord Guruvayurappa, Nadaswaram by Vidwan Seshampatti Sivalimgam, felicitation by Governor of Tamil Nadu the celebration culminated with Abhishekam of the couple from the vessel of yagna rituals with everyone singing Gowri Kalyana Vaibhavame. Post the Abhishekam the Couple were resplendent while seated, as people lined up to touch their feet and obtain Mangala Akshadai. I am very very blessed to witness Parameswar Parvathi and was so overwhelmed that I could wet their holy feet with Aananda Bashpam ( tears of joy ). May God Bless them with many more Jayanthi so they can, in turn, Bless millions like me. Sri. C.S. Pancham with Sri T.N. Krishnan and his Dharampatni Smt Kamala on the occasion of 90th B...

Nrithya Seva Mani by Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival to Kalasree Dr Sunanda Nair

C leveland Thyagaraja Festival's Nrithya Seva Mani award will be presented to the renowned Mohiniyattam exponent Dr. Sunanda Nair. The title of Nrithya Seva Mani is bestowed upon an individual who has made a lasting contribution to Classical Dance through propagation and demonstration. Senior disciple of Pathmabhushan Dr Kanak Rele, Dr. Sunanda Nair is one of the foremost exponents of the art today. She is the first student to complete Masters Degree in Mohiniyattam in India. She has completed her PhD from University of Mumbai for her thesis "Intrinsic Lyrical Feminism in Mohiniattam". She was in high school, while she started the Srutilaya Institute of Fine Arts, which trains students both Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam, in 1980. She had performed all around the globe in prestigious venues and had received somany awards such as 'Kalarathnam’ from Kerala Kalamandalam(2016), 'Kalaasree' from the Kerala Sangeetha Natak Akadem...

Opportunities -

Looking for perfect person to join REVA Performing Arts family! Vacancy announced POSTED ON : 29th May 2018 REVA University, awarded as Top University of India offers BA in Performing Arts (Dance, Music and Theater Arts), English and Psychology, MPA (Bharathanatyam&Kuchipudi), Diploma (Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam). Vacancy for one full time faculty at Assistant or Associate Professor level. Apply on or before June 10th. Please check poster for details. Contact : School of Performing Arts REVA University Bengaluru Opportunities (Advt. Section)

Opulence of Mohiniyattam performances in Soorya fest 2018

I t will be a real feast for the Mohiniyattam fans! 111 days long Soorya fest 2018, will display the opulence of Mohiniyattam performances by nation's top class artists. The details of the performances are as follows. 6th Oct Dr. Methil Devika (Venue : AKG Centre, Thiruananthapuram) 1st Dec Smt. Pallavi Krishnan (Venue : Ganesham, Thiruananthapuram) 2nd Dec Kalasree Gopika Varma (Venue : Ganesham, Thiruananthapuram) 3rd Dec Smt. Smitha Rajan (Venue : Ganesham, Thiruananthapuram) 4th Dec Kalasree Dr. Sunanda Nair (Venue : Ganesham, Thiruananthapuram) 5th Dec Dr. Neena Prasad (Venue : Ganesham, Thiruananthapuram) Time : 6.45 PM - all the above performances.

Pandit Samta Prasad - Resonance unlimited

I f each year is a beat, today the second cycle of the twelve beat Ekthal is completed, after the demise of the Maharaj of Thaal - Pandit Samta Prasad (Gudai Maharaj). Of course, his life was not different from his own words: "The whole life of a tabla artiste is dedicated to finding a special beat with the tali and the khali . They reside in his heart, because his soul rests and throbs with the thaala of measured matras" . He is a musician who had dominance over both the baayan and tabla. He was an illustrious soloist and accompanist. In Pandit Kishan Maharaj's ( tabla exponent ) opinion, "Tabla in Gudai ji's hands seemed like a fish trapped in an eagle's claws". He had such an astonishing control over the instrument. It is said that in those days, the organizers felt like- without Gudai Maharaj the concerts were incomplete and they will first attest to the date of Gudai Maharaj before they finalize the main artist ! He was awarded the...

"And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest...", Dr. Bombay Jayashri at Narada Gana Sabha

V idushi Bombay Jayashri culminated her musical yagnas Margazhi season Chennai appropriately at a Sabha whose name is synonymous with the Vedic sage holding Tampura singing songs of Vishnu and Sadguru Gnanananda . Yes Sadguru Gananda Auditorium of Narada Gana Sabha was chocked with ardent music lovers from Chennai and rest of the ‘world’ to listen to Carnatic music by Bombay Jayashri. While, on 30 December 18, people started queuing up outside the gates in 'tune' with the anticipated calm and meditative music, there was a celestial event of invisible line up of ragas waiting to waft in and gently enter the vocal chords of the divine singer framed between two Tampuras . And when curtain was raised at 4 pm. Bindumalini, Kalyani, sriranjani, Sindhu Bhairavi, Desh - to name a few Gandharv Beings - came one by one in a very orderly manner. In contrast to the melody , the applause was higher than 6 on the Richter Scale and the standing ovation appeared to be unend...

WOCUE

Search This Blog