Tribute to a legend
Lakshmi Viswanathan.
DANCER LAKSHMI Vishwanathan has come up with a tribute to Bangalore Nagaratnammal, the legendary woman. ``Vidya Sundari" will be performed at the Music Academy TTK Hall on December 17 at 7 p.m. Nagaratnammal's life-story is awesome. Born to Puttalakshmi, and abandoned by her father, she began as a humble dancer. Presented in the Mysore durbar as a young dancer, she soon won accolades through her talent. Patronised by a wealthy man, Rajaratnam Mudaliar, Nagaratnammal built a big house and moved to George Town in Madras. All the famous artistes with hereditary lineage were also there, and became her friends. The list was topped by no less than veena Dhanammal.
Moving from dance to music and Harikatha, Nagaratnammal or BNR as she was known is said to have given more than a thousand concerts in her heyday. BNR lost her only daughter and adopted a young girl, only to be disillusioned when she discovered that the girl's parents attempted to murder her with poison. It is widely believed that a dream saved her life. And the old man who appeared in her dream was Tyagaraja the composer himself. Soon after, when she learnt of the sad state of the composer's "Samadhi" at Tiruvaiyaru, she went there, and built the present edifice herself.
She did much more, giving all her wealth to charity. She was the first woman to sing during the aradhana, along with other women musicians. The male bastion isolated this group and BNR conducted a parallel festival for years, until a peaceful settlement was finally reached and the musicians were all united.
Today, her statue, facing the Tyagaraja Samadhi, stands in silent testimony to the life of a great woman, a woman of substance whose contribution to music has an enduring value. "This story is real and a choreographer's delight," says Lakshmi who is busy working on the show. "With a host of dancers and musicians participating, this colourful show will be spectacular. I am designing beautiful period costumes. I am also keen on projecting BNR the complete woman, whose life was full and refined," she says.
The show is also a fundraiser for the restoration of the Senate House, University of Madras. Invite cards will be available from December 6 at Landmark, Nungambakkam, Amethyst and the auditorium.
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