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

The Second ‘WOCUE Rasa-Navam’ ( something special captures )

F rom the set of pics that came under our consideration, we selected this beautiful capture of Smt. Shashwati Garai Ghosh in landacape orientation as the second WOCUE rasanavam – something special captures. Photo by : Debojyothi Dhar, Captured at Mukteshwar Fest, 2017 In this picture, the Dancer is positioned like a wonderful sculpture. The color of her costume is well blended into atmosphere of the stones on the Temple structure in the background. Lights on the Temple structure are nice and the other structures goes into darkness slowly into the infinity. (Announced on 29th May 2017) About the Artist : SMT. SHASHWATI GARAI GHOSH Smt. Shashwati Garai Ghosh, is an Odissi Dancer from Kolkotta. She is a Disciple of Vidushi Sharmila Biswas. Shashwati has performed several times at the Konark Festival, the Mukteshwar Festival, and the Ananya Festival in India. Besides, she has danced at Menaka Thakkar’s group production (Toronto, 2004), Maximum India...

!da Dance Fest 2019 at God's Own Country - Third edition

T hird edition of ida dance fest was organized on 14th and 15th December 2019 at 'The Land of Lords and Looms' -Kannur, Kerala, a region famous for the Theyyams and Handlooms. On the first day, Kathak by Richa Guptha, Bharathanatyam by RLV Anand, Harinie Jeevitha & Bhairavi Venkatesan, Kuchipudi by Ruchi Krishna and Aavani Rakesh were presented. An item that depicted the story of Lord Ayyappa in Ragamalika set to Aadi thalam was presented by RLV Anand. Harinie Jeevitha & Bhairavi Venkatesan started their performance with an invocation to Lord Ganesha. Through their next item 'Ananada Natana Prakasam' of Shri Muthuswami Deekshithar, both Harinie and Bhairavi captured the attention of the audience. Due to the deviation from the Bharathanatyam's traditional style of music in the background, their next item 'Janani Jagathkarini' did effect the 'classical mood' of the performance. It is not that the choreography or performance ...

Nrtya Techniques in Mohiniyattam; book released

R enowned 'Mizhavu' artist and Guru - Padmashri P.K. Narayanan Nambiar released a book ( Malayalam ) - 'Nrthya Sankethangal Mohiniyattathil' written by Dr. Geetha Sivakumar at Palakkad, Keralam. Over the years, different 'Baanis' or 'Traditions' had contributed a lot in the nourishment of Mohiniyattam. This book -'Nrtya Sankethangal Mohiniyattathil' focuses on 'Kalamandalam baani'. ”Mohiniyattam, a lyrical dance form of Kerala, has a well structured 'prayoga' style in Kerala Kalamandalam Kalaries. This book tends to analyse the techniques of Mohiniyattam adopted by Kerala Kalamandalam so as to consider it as a Lasya Nrtya form. The queries on the techniques of nrtya such as what, why, where, when are the basic thought of this study. It is analysed on the basis of Sanskrit texts, which give us more scientific explanations and principles. ...

Infinite Ocean in a Cup! Savour of music from Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh

W ith its vastness and depth beyond the sight, Music is often referred to as 'Anantha Saagaram' ( the Infinite Ocean). "Cup O' Carnatic" by Vidushi Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh, a video series which influenced a lot of viewers, was an effort to handover the flavors of the infinite ocean with the piecemeal approach at the best. "So many people write to me with queries on Veena and Music. Though initially I tried to answer them individually, due to time constraint, it became difficult. So I thought it will be nice to have a public platform to attend such queries so that every one can access it", Dr. Jayanthi explains the path that lead her to the creation of "Cup O' Carnatic". To motivate young rasikas into enjoying and appreciating Carnatic music, the videos are purposely kept to a shorter duration. Apart from its rich content and the effective presentation, what was so special about the series was its short duration. This in-fact had ins...

A New Dawn for Mohiniyattam : Smt. Pallavi Krishnan's Lasya Akademi to Open in Kolkata

M ohiniyattam enthusiasts in Kolkata have reason to celebrate as renowned dancer and choreographer Pallavi Krishnan is set to inaugurate the Lasya Akademi of Mohiniyattam in her hometown. This new institution promises to be a beacon for the art form, offering a platform for dance lovers to immerse themselves in the nuances of this classical dance. With Pallavi's dedication to preserving the traditions of Mohiniyattam while bringing in new ideas, this academy is set to become an important cultural center in the city. Pallavi Krishnan is a celebrated Mohiniyattam performer, choreographer, and teacher with a career marked by artistic excellence and global impact. Trained under eminent gurus at Kerala Kalamandalam and Santiniketan, she has mastered the delicate balance of tradition and innovation, making her performances both deeply rooted and uniquely expressive. Her dedication to the art form has earned her numerous accolades...

Sangita Kalanidhi award for Dr. S. Soumya

R enowned Carnatic Musician Dr. S Soumya is selected for the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi Award for the year 2019. The Executive Committee of The Music Academy in its meeting held today, 21st July 2019, unanimously decided on the Sangita Kalanidhi and other awards. Along with it, Sangita Kala Acharya (2 Awards), T.T.K. Awards (2 Awards), Musicologist Award, Nritya Kalanidhi were also announced. Sangita Kala Acharya Awards will be presented to Smt. Seetha Narayanan, Smt. M.S. Sheela while Shri. Vyasarpadi Kothandaraman and Shri Rajkumar Bharathi will be presented T.T.K. Awards. Musicologist Award and Nritya Kalanidhi will be presented to Dr. Arati N.Rao and Smt. Priyadarsini Govind respectively, said Sri N Murali, President of the Music Academy. A disciple of Sangita Kalanidhi Dr S. Ramanathan and Sangita Kala Acharya T. Muktha, S. Sowmya is one of the foremost exponents of the art today. A Ph.D. holder from the University of Madras, she is known for her intellectual ...

SPIC MACAY 'Kumbh' - A plethora of Indian classical music and dance

W e all know the 'Kumbh' or 'Kumbha' Mela (Fair) to be one of the largest human congregations in the world. This 50 day festival is a pilgrimage of faith where people gather to bathe in the sacred river, Ganges. Traditionally, the ArdhKumbh (which is now celebrated as Kumbh) is held once in every six years at different locations (Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain) depending on Hindu astrological positions. This year, the Kumbh is being celebrated from 15th January - 4th March 2019 at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. SPICMACAY has come together with Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Dept. of Culture, U.P., District Administration, Mela Administration and got the opportunity to be a part of the Kumbh Mela 2019 Anahad Naad 'The Unheard Sound' and celebrate the richness and diversity of our Indian heritage. In this regard, SPICMACAY has invited students from different states to participate in the majestic SPICMACAY Kumbh Mela 2019 to be hel...

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...

The First Lesson - By Mysore Vasudevacharya

M ysore Vasudevacharya, doesn't need any introduction among the the Carnatic Music Devotees. Many popular compositions like 'Broche varevarura' in Kamas, 'Mamavatu sri Sarasvati' in Hindolam, 'Bhajare Re Manasa' in Abheri, 'Ninne Nammitinayya Sri Rama' in SimhendraMadhyamam are the contribution of this great Musician who belonged to the 'Shishya Parampara' of Sri Thyagara Swami, forerunner among the Trinities of Carnatic Music. We found an old article written by him- published somewhere in between 1900 -1961, recalling the days he spent with his Guru - Sri Patnam Subramania Iyer around 1870s! Those words, like his compositions, were flowing out from the heart of purity. He writes : Says Bhagavadgeetha. You should serve your Guru with devotion and sincerity; you should prostrate at his feet; you should ask him questions and get your doubts cleared; you are, then, ready for the road to 'Brahmagnana' . Who is a G...

WOCUE

Search This Blog