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

Traditions alive! Twenty eight day long annual Chakyarkooth presentation

I rinjalakkuda Kootalmaanikya Kshethram in Kerala, is one of the rare Temples that is dedicated to Lord Bharatha, the younger brother of Lord Sree Rama. Every year after the ten day annual temple festival in the Malayalam month of Medam (April-May), twenty eight days long Chakyarkoothu is presented during the month Edavam (May-June). Also, following it, there will be a twelve day long Anguliyaankam Koothu during the month Karkkitakam (July-August). Chakyar-koothu Chakyar-koothu is a refined monologue in which the episodes from Ramayanam and Mahabharatham, two Epics of the Hindu culture, are narrated by a male performer (called as Chakyar) who belongs to the Chakyar community. After a short prayer, he recites a Shloka in Samskritham (Verses in Sanskrit). Then he starts elaborating it in Malayalam. His narration style that entwines the story with the jokes of social or political relevance makes it highly interesting even to the common men. These jokes are mostl...

'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...

Soorya fest - 'Parampara' series

P arampara series of performances in Soorya fest 2018 this year will be conducted from Nov 1 to 10 at Thiruananthapuram, Keralam. The venue of performance will be Ganesham and will begin at 6.45 PM on all days. 1 Nov - Dakshina Vaidayanathan ( Bharatanatyam ) 2 Nov - Pratiksha Kashi ( Kuchipudi ) 3 Nov - Sreelakshmi Govardhan ( Kuchipudi ) 4 Nov - Divya Unni ( Bharatanatyam ) 5 Nov - Abhayalakshmi ( Odissi ) 6 Nov - Reddy Lakshmi ( Kuchipudi ) 7 Nov - Deepti Gupta ( Kathak ) 8 Nov - Shweta Prachande ( Bharatanatyam ) 9 Nov - Lavanya Ananth ( Bharatanatyam ) 10 Nov - Uthara Unni ( Bharatanatyam ) Time : 6.45 PM - all the above performances. November 1 to 10 Workshop on Dance by Guru Bragha Bassal Hamee 11-Inch Tabcase Tan Brown Leather Tablet Case / Sleeve / Pouch for Toshiba ...

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.

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...

DLit. for Gopi Aasaan, Prof. M.K.Sanu, Dr. N.V.P. Unithiri

S ree Sankara Samskritham University, Keralam will be conferring Dlit. for the renowned Kathakali exponent Pathmasree Kalamandalam Gopi, writer Prof. MK.Sanu, Samskritham scholar Prof. NVP Unithiri for the lifetime contribution in their respective fields. Vadakke Manalath Govindan Nair, popularly known as Kalamandalam Gopi (Gopi Aasaan), is a Legendary figure in Kathakali. Though he is famous for his 'Pacha Veshams' like Nalan, Karnan, he had portrayed his expertise in characters Arjuna (Subhadraharanam), Yudhishthira (Kirmeeravadham) etc too. 'Kathi veshams' like Ravana, Keechaka; 'Chuvappu Thaadi Veshams' ( characters in red beard) like Bali by Gopi Aasaan too had conquered the hearts of the Kathakali fans. The Government of India had awarded him the civilian honor of Pathmasri in 2009. Prof. M. K. Sanu is a prominent Malayalam literary figure. He is a retired professor and has imprinted his name as a critic, biographer, editor, translator, journ...

!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 ...

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...

WOCUE

Search This Blog