Karnataka - Mysore   

Disrespect to dancer shocks Mysoreans

Special Correspondent

Performance was delayed by two hours to allow two MLAs to perform on stage

MYSORE: The people of Mysore were stunned by the shabby treatment and insult meted out to eminent danseuse Padma Subramaniam on the concluding day of the cultural programmes on the palace premises on Wednesday.

Considered as an icon in her field, Dr. Padma Subramaniam was supposed to give a Bharatanatya recital with the illuminated palace in the backdrop and was set to take centre stage at 7 p.m.

However, the Dasara Cultural Committee rescheduled her programme and accommodated two MLAs Balaraj and Dhruvanarayan who subjected the crowd to inanities and violated the sanctity of the prestigious cultural programmes for which artistes from across the country vie with each other to perform.

Though momentarily shocked, the crowd put up with the banalities. One of the MLAs announced that he would mimic how different film stars would sing "Nai Mari Nai Mari Thindi Beke," which was vulgar and a bad imitation.

While a section of the audience squirmed in their seas, the two MLAs hogged the spotlight till 9.45 p.m. before relenting to vacate the stage.

In the meantime, the senior danseuse, who was to perform at 7 p.m., had to wait for her turn till 10 p.m. by which time it had started to rain heavily and the show was about to be cancelled. Shocked by the treatment meted out to the danseuse and the insult heaped on the sensibilities of the public, the connoisseurs of art and dance rallied around her and beseeched her to perform. Many of them were in tears, and Padma Subramaniam did not disappoint those who had waited in the rain to see her perform.

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