Torch Bearers Padma Sharma: CONTENTSCONTENTS An Exceptional Guru Cover 10 18 Story Rays of Kumari Kamala: 34 Hope A True Inspiration Dr Dwaram Tyagaraj: A Musician with a Big Heart Cultural Beyond RaysBulletin of Hope Borders The Thread of • Expressions34 of Continuity06 Love by Sri Krishna - Viraha Reviews • Jai Ho Russia! Reports • 4th Debadhara 52 Dance Festival • 5 Art Forms under One Roof 58 • 'Bodhisattva' steals the show • Resonating Naatya Tarang • Promoting Unity, Peace and Indian Culture • Tyagaraja's In Sight 250th Jayanthi • Simhapuri Dance Festival: A Celebrations Classical Feast • Odissi Workshop with Guru Debi Basu 42 64 • The Art of Journalistic Writing Tributes Beacons of light Frozen Mandakini Trivedi: -in-Time An Artiste Rooted in 63 Yogic Principles 28 61 ‘The Dance India’- a monthly cultural magazine in "If the art is poor, English is our humble attempt to capture the spirit and culture of art in all its diversity. the nation is sick." Editor-in-Chief International Coordinators BR Vikram Kumar Haimanti Basu, Tennessee Executive Editor Mallika Jayanti, Nebrasaka Paul Spurgeon Nicodemus Associate Editor Coordinators RMK Sharma (News, Advertisements & Subscriptions) Editorial Advisor Sai Venkatesh, Karnataka B Ratan Raju Kashmira Trivedi, Thane Alaknanda, Noida Contributions by Lakshmi Thomas, Chennai Padma Shri Sunil Kothari (Cultural Critic) Parinithi Gopal, Sagar Avinash Pasricha (Photographer) PSB Nambiar Sooryavamsham, Kerala Administration Manager Anurekha Gosh, Kolkata KV Lakshmi GV Chari, New Delhi Dr. Kshithija Barve, Goa and Kolhapur Circulation Manager V Srinivas Technical Advise and Graphic Design Communications Incharge K Bhanuji Rao Articles may be submitted for possible publication in the magazine in the following manner. • Send in your articles to [email protected]. Please include your full name, contact information (address and telephone number) and a short bio data. • Articles are published in the magazine only on the condition that the author agrees to the terms of the Copyright Statement and Policy Regd. Office: Trivikram Publications, D.No. 50-01-50/1, ASR Nagar, Seethammadhara, Visakhapatnam - 530 013, A.P. Tel: 0891-2525656 The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various writers in the articles and reviews do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the editorial team or official policies of The Dance India. All rights reserved. © June 2017 - The contents published in The Dance India magazine are an exclusive copyright of Trivikram Publications. No part of the magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written consent of Trivikram Publications. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts in Visakhapatnam only. Edited, Published and Owned by Bathina Ranga Vikram Kumar, Mobile No. +91-9848137445, on behalf of Trivikram Publications from D.No. 50-01-50/1, ASR Nagar, Seethammadhara, Dist. Visakhapatnam - 530 013, A.P. and Printed by K. Ram Naidu, Vizag Art Printers, D.No. 30-5-21, Krishna Gardens, Dabagardens, Visakhapatnam - 530 020, A.P. Editor: Bathina Ranga Vikram Kumar THE DANCE INDIA | JUNE 2017 | 4 Editor’s Note ... As it was said and proved many times in the past that 'Dharmo Rakshite Rakshitaha' (Dharma protects those who protect it), it is what should be practiced now as well. Being a firm believer of the same, I know 'Naatyo Rakshite Rakshitaha' holds true to the field of art and culture (Kuchipudi Dance). The government has extended its hands to the practitioners of various disciplines like sports, and various forms of art and culture. However, the believers and practitioners of Kuchipudi dance lost out on many occasions as they were not encouraged, resulting in a loss of the particular form of art and art lovers as well. Having noticed this, several artistes and patrons of Kuchipudi began an agitation at Visakhapatnam and we at The Dance India came up with a slogan 'Naatyo Rakshite Rakshitaha' with a burning desire to protect the art form. We salute all those brave souls who have fought for the cause of Kuchipudi. Hard work and belief in something never fails one no matter how tough the journey. No stone was left unturned by some in the cause for Kuchipudi and now, the good news is that the state government led by chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has recognised the same and the art and culture ministry has started the first batch of training camp with nearly 200 teachers of Kuchipudi from June 5, 2017 at Kuchipudi Village. In the same way, it is our desire that all the artistes in various states of the country should take up such struggles to protect Indian art and culture as a priority and request the authorities and governing bodies to encourage the practitioners of Indian art forms. Naatya Devo Bhava BR Vikram Kumar THE DANCE INDIA | JUNE 2017 | 5 Applications for PADMA AWARDS-2018 Declaration of Sangeet Natak Akademi are invited Fellowships (Akademi Ratna) and The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards India, has invited applications from the (Akademi Puraskar) for the Year 2016 Tindividuals (Indian citizens) and The General Council of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, recommendations from the institutions for the highest the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, Civilian Awards - Padma Awards - 2018, namely, New Delhi at its meeting held on 24th May 2017 in Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri Guwahati (Assam) unanimously elected four (4) to declared on the occasion of Republic Day. eminent personality in the field of performing arts, Informing this to the media through a communiqué namely Shri Arvind Parikh, Smt. R. Vedavalli, Shri Ram issued on April 28, 2017, the Economic Advisor, Gopal Bajaj and Shri Sunil Kothari as Sangeet Natak Satpal Chouhan, said the nominations/ Akademi Fellow (Akademi Ratna). recommendations have to mandatorily be done The Fellowship of the Akademi is the most prestigious online. The online nominations/recommendations for and rare honour, which is restricted to 40 numbers at the Padma Awards will begin from May 1, 2017, and any given time. By the election of above four fellows the last date for nominations for Padma Awards is there are presently 40 fellows of the SNA Sangeet September 15, 2017. The cut-off date may please be Natak Akademi. strictly adhered to, as nominations/recommendations The General Council of the Akademi also selected received only during this period will be considered. It forty-three (43) artists from the field of Music, Dance, may also be noted that the nominations/ Theatre, Traditional/Folk/Tribal Music/Dance/Theatre, recommendations received through online mode will Puppetry and Overall contribution/scholarship in only be considered. Performing Arts for the Sangeet Natak Akademi Nominations can be submitted online through Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the year 2016. These www.padmaawards.gov.in forty-three (43) artists include two joint awards. THE DANCE INDIA | JUNE 2017 | 6 In the field of Music, eleven eminent artists, namely (Pala, Odisha), Chiranji Lai (Mand of Rajasthan), Padma Talwalkar and Prabhakar Karekar for Gulzar Ahmad Ganie (Chakri Music of Jammu & Hindustani Vocal Music, Arvind Mulgaonkar for Kashmir), Braj Kishore Dubey (Folk Music of Bihar), Hindustani Instrumental Music-Tabla, Kala Ramnath Prabhitangsu Das and Dattatreya Aralikatte for for Hindustani Instrumental Music-Violin, Neela Puppetry. Ramgopal and K Omanakutty for Carnatic Vocal Pappu Venugopal Rao for scholarship and Avinash Music, J. Vaidyanathan for Carnatic Instrumental Pascricha for overall contribution have been selected Music-Mridangam, Mysore M Manjunath for Carnatic for the Akademi Awards 2016 in the field of Overall Instrumental Music-Violin, Ningthoujam Shyamchand Contribution/Scholarship to Performing Arts. Singh (Nata Sankirtana, Manipur), Ratnamala Prakash and Ahmad Hussain & Shri Mohd. Hussain- Hussain The Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards Brothers (joint award) for Other Major Traditions of will be conferred by the Hon'ble President of India. Music-Sugam Sangeet have been selected for the Akademi Awards 2016. Announcement of Ustad Bismillah In the field of Dance, nine eminent artists have been Khan Yuva Puraskar for the Year 2016 selected for the Akademi Awards 2016, namely, Geeta by Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi Chandran for Bharatanatyam, Jitendra Maharaj for The Sangeet Natak Akademi, National Academy of Kathak, Kalamandalam Ramachandran Unnithan for Music, Dance and Drama, the apex body of Kathakali, Maisnam Kaminikumar Singh for Manipuri, performing arts in the country in the meeting of its A B Bala Kondala Rao for Kuchipudi, Ratikant General Council held on 24 May 2017 in Guwahati has Mohapatra for Odissi, Haricharan Bhuyan Borbayan unanimously selected 33 eminent artists of India for Sattriya Dance, Gopal Prasad Dubey for Chhau including one joint award who have made a mark as and Anita R Ratnam for Contemporary Dance. young talents in their respective fields of performing In the field of Theatre, nine eminent artists have been arts for Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2016. selected for Akademi Awards 2016: Kusum Kumar for In the field of music, eight recipients of Yuva Puraskar Playwriting, Satyabrata Rout, Bipin Kumar and are: Yashasvi Sirpotkar and Koushik Aithal for Rajkamal Nayak for Direction, Gireesan V, Oinam Hindustani Vocal Music; Yashwant Vaishnav for Biramangol Singh and Mohan Joshi for Acting, Anjana Hindustani Instrumental Music-Tabla; Abir Hussain