The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Ramaiah Pillai's contribution to classical dance and music hailed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 23, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Ramaiah Pillai's contribution to classical dance and music hailed

Special Correspondent

Three-day 26th Vazhuvoorar Dance and Music Festival inaugurated in Chennai "In India dance is considered a form of divinity, whereas in the West, it is meant to be for entertainment"

K.S. Bakthavatsalam, chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Chennai Kendra, talking to Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, industrialist, at the inauguration of Vazhuvoorar Dance and Music Festival in Chennai on Sunday. Also seen is A. Natarajan, former Director of Doodarshan Chennai Kendra (extreme left).

CHENNAI: Speakers on Sunday recalled the services of Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai to the propagation of classical dance and music.

The late Pillai had trained many of the leading Bhatatanatyam dancers, they said at the inauguration of the 26th Vazhuvoorar Dance and Music Festival here.

K.S. Bakthavatsalam, chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Chennai chapter, who inaugurated the three-day festival organised by Shree Vazhuvoorar Classical Bharathanatya Arts Academy, said Ramaiah Pillai had developed a style, Vazhuvoor School, to which several top dancers belonged.

He said it was in India that dance was considered a form of divinity, whereas in the West, it was meant to be for entertainment.

Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, industrialist, referred to Pillai's contribution to the film industry also.

"Archives should be utilised"

A. Natarajan, former Director of Chennai Kendra of Doordarshan, said archival materials comprising interviews of the late Bharatanatyam exponent should be utilised so that the younger generation would be able to enrich their knowledge of dance and music.

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