`I wish to record compositions for posterity'
RUPA SRIKANTH
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What started as a pastime turned into a life-long passion for Sudharani Raghupathy.
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This season, Sudharani Raghupathy will be conferred `Viswakala Bharati' and `Natya Padmam.'
PHOTOS: S. R. RAGHUNATHAN
SPANNING SIX DECADES: Sudharani Raghupathy.
There was once a charming, young child, barely two-and-a-half years old, who followed a routine during holidays at her grandparents' home in Uthukuzhi, near Erode. In the morning, she would be taught to mime for popular Dasar padas like `Mutta Beda' and `Mathura Nagarilo' by her mother, Shakuntala, and other relatives. And the same had to be performed in the evening in front of the whole household.
The child, her face made up with talcum powder, home-made collyrium in her eyes, would be draped in a sari and decked with any accessories that were available. She would faithfully reproduce what she had been taught, without making a fuss or being self-conscious, reminisces her cousin, Namu.
This child was Sudharani, better known today as Sudharani Raghupathy, 60 years ago. What started out as an amusing pastime turned into a life-long passion fuelled by the mother's interest and the daughter's commitment.
Much against popular opinion, the talented child was given classical Bharatanatyam training in Bangalore under gurus like Lalitha Dorai, V.S.Kaushik, U.S.Krishna Rao and Chandrabhaga Devi, Thanjavur K.P.Kittappa Pillai and Muthiah Pillai. In addition, she had the privilege of watching and imbibing the legendary Mylapore Gowri Amma's abhinaya.
Sudharani also defied tradition by accepting a scholarship at Randolph-Macon Women's College in Virginia, U.S. She was only 20 then. She studied the Martha Graham's style of American modern dance besides other academic subjects. She recalls being treated as an exotic museum piece, a bouquet that had both roses and thorns in it.
After marriage, she moved to Chennai, then Madras. In a few months, she was back to dance and later took to performing selectively with the blessings of her husband, Raghupathy, and her orthodox in-laws.
With the support of Madurai N.Krishnan, better known as Vadyar, and Soundararaja Iyengar, Sudharani Raghupathy founded a dance school, Shree Bharatalaya in 1970.
A great achievement
Set in sylvan surroundings, an oasis of peace and calm tucked away within the congested Luz area, the school one would agree has been one of her greatest achievements. She started it with an idea of imparting holistic training to students, providing music, Sanskrit and dance theory classes as well, in the curriculum.
Says Priya Murle who has been with her for more than three decades, "Dance class is a second home for me. There is something about the place that draws us all here. It is like a safe heaven where Vadhyar and Sudha Aunty nurtured us and gave us a sense of security and confidence." She is also known to be a very fair and generous teacher, who led by example, as acknowledged by Suman Karpur, mother of Smitha, the first student.
There was no dearth of recognition for Sudharani outside either. She has performed for many dignitaries since her childhood. She is particularly nostalgic about one command performance for Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru when she was in school. She was summoned by the Principal and told to go home to get ready.
In the evening, she performed to a small but distinguished audience of the Prime Minister, his daughter Indira and a few bureaucrats. After an hour or so, when an officer signalled for her to conclude, Jawaharlal Nehru's response was, "Shhh... Baby, you continue..." The loving words still ring in Sudharani's ears. Her paternal grandfather who had been against Sudharani's dance until then felt that if the Prime Minister liked it, then his granddaughter must have some special talent!
Recognition came in the form of titles too, prominent among them being Padma Sri, the Sangeet Natak Akademi award, the Nritya Choodamani and the Kalaimamani awards. This year, she will receive the Viswakala Bharati title from Bharat Kalachar, Chennai, and the Natya Padmam title from Brahma Gana Sabha, Chennai.
For the past 25 years, Sudharani has also kept up a cultural exchange programme with Colgate University, New York, tending to her family responsibilities as well. She has two sons, one of whom is settled in the U.S. The other is K.S.R.Aniruddha, a lawyer and a percussionist.
No wonder, there is a gleam of satisfaction in the veteran dancer's eyes. Is there anything left undone? "Of course," is the prompt reply, "I am interested in researching and recording dance compositions for posterity. In 1979, I presented the first-ever serial on Bharatanatyam on Doordarshan and brought in great persons like Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai and Rukmini Devi. In 1989, I produced another series for the National Network. I have recorded music for dance and published the Laghu Bharatham series sharing my knowledge and resource material. Now, I'm engaged in recording old compositions like the Navasandhi Kauthuvam and newer choreographies on VCDs and DVDs for dance enthusiasts all over the world."
It might have been her mother who pushed her into dance, but it was only a question of igniting the spark within. The daughter took care of the rest.
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