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 Classical Dancers Pay Tribute to Dr J Jayalalithaa A brilliant student, star actress, astute politician, commanding leader, caring Amma - Dr J Jayalalithaa  Invite to her performance - Source- Social Network Jayalalithaa Jayaram (24 February 1948 – 5 December 2016) was an Indian actor and politician who served five terms as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, for over fourteen years between 1991 and 2016.- Source- Wikipedia. Indian Classical Dance community has special relation with the great woman who herself was a classical dancer. We share some moments of her with artists. I am feeling a deep sadness today, because I knew Jayalalitha so well in our younger years, and memories are flooding my brain. We had sleepovers at one another's houses, I played table tennis with her brother Jayakumar along with my friend Uma Alladi. Ammu (as we called her) and I were dancing partners for the longest time at Sarasa teacher's school. In fact Teacher choreographed Lalgudi's Mohana Kalyani Tillana for Ammu, Prema (Chaturvedi) Sadasivam and myself, and we performed it at the Raj Bhavan when Teacher received her Kalaimamani Award, way back when! On Vijaya Dasani days Ammu and I would call one another and land up at the same time at Teacher's house so we could dance together. Her mother Sandhya, a friend of my mother's, had brought 7 1/2 year old Ammu to my Arangetram in 1956. That was the day Sandhya aunty decided to put her with Sarasa teacher. A few years later, my mother took me to Ammu's Arangetram. She was both beautiful, and talented. When I was doing my 2nd year of B.A. at Stella Maris College (1964-65), Ammu joined in the Pre University Course, having recently graduated at the top of her class from Church Park. We'd meet at Assembly or in the corridors and catch up a little bit, but one day she told me that she was quitting, because she was acting as the heroine, in her very first movie, and the shooting schedules were interfering with her studies. She looked forlorn telling me this news, and I felt very sad for her, because she was really quite brilliant and would have excelled academically too. After seeing "Vennira Aadai", I remember calling and congratulating her, and she sounded so happy. Soon our paths diverged. She became a famous star, I continued with my dance career and academia (teaching English at SIET, Queen Mary's and North Madras Colleges) We lost complete touch when I left to the US. Sadly, at the fairly young age of 68 she is no more, and I am reminded of Marlowe's couplet from "Faust" - "Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight And withered is Apollo's laurel bough". May your soul rest in peace, Ammu! You are bold non-conformist with the tremendous strength of your convictions, who never feared to speak your mind. You will be missed by millions that worshipped you. Padma Bhushan Dr Vempati Chinna Satyam Kuchipudi Art Academy  On behalf of Kuchipudi Art Academy Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and Kuchipudi, we pay our humble respect and homage to our beloved "Puratchi Thailavi - Dr J Jayalalithaa". Kuchipudi Art Academy Chennai prays, "Our humble salutations to our beloved Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and disciple of our guru Padma Bhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, Selvi J.Jayalalithaa, who departed from this earth last night to adore the Dancing Darbar of Lord Nataraj in the presence of her gurus Shri. Vempati Chinna Satyam garu and Ms. K.J.Sarasa along with the recent Shri. Balamurali Krishna garu. Our Academy as mark of our respect will be dedicating our Vempati's Marghazi Utsav 2017 to Sevi J.Jayalilathaa. May her soul rest in peace. For the benefit of Artistes and Art lovers, enclosing the special speech by Selvi J. Jayalilathaa at our academy on the 14th July 1992, , Tuesday, during her visit. Her command over Natya Sastram, Her respect for Guru and his institution are exemplary. That morning she visited our academy and the same evening she attended our Dance Drama Ramayanam at Music Academy. is provided here. (by Kuchipudi Art Academy) If you listen to the speech, you find that each and every word reflects her study and knowledge about classical dance.  Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant shares an incredible memory of receiving the Kalaimamani..the highest state award of Tamilnadu for 2002 (award given in November 2003) from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Late Dr JJayalalitha .She "still hears her voice saying Congratulations as she gave the citation and award". Sandhya Sree Atmakuri An 'Insignificant Young Dancer's Eulogy As I was gazing at all her beautiful pictures exuding with Charisma... I couldn't help but reminisce about a few interesting events that I experienced in relation to her... Jayalalitha, was also a disciple of my Kuchipudi Guru, Padmabhushan Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyamgaru and her giving mastergaru some additional land (to develop his Academy) in the prime location of Raja Annamalaipuram, Adayar, is evidence of her Guru Bhakthi and Kala Bhakthi...On this occassion, she visited our Academy and we all felt so important !(especially with sniffer dogs, commandos, lady cops at our place of dance-worship. I cannot forget her speech, she gave at that time, her command in english and telugu,(not once referring to any of her notes).. her humility in front of mastergaru(even then she was the CM). I found myself awestruck by her overall charisma... The same evening we performed for her at the Music Academy premises and were very touched that she sat through the whole dance-drama....did I mention, we had commandos in the side wings, back stage... lady cops checking our 'vaddiyanams' hence the vaddanam checking!) . Another memory: Dr. Jayalalitha, enabling an opportunity to Kuchipudi Art Academy, by having us present the dance-drama, "Sri Krishna Parijatham" completely in Tamil... at the Tamil Conference in Tanjavur...Another rare opportunity to 'show off' to her Highness, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at that time. My most memorable incident was when my friend Kalpalathika Thiyagarajan and me performed "Marakatha Mani Maya Chela" (I think this prog. was at Taj Cormandel), in front of Dr Jayalalithaa: she actually put Taalam to all the jathis, paid attention to both of us and the orchestra and complimented us with all her heart..This gesture completely caught me off guard as up until then, I just brushed her off as, just any other politician/vip/vvip who come in late, sit for a few minutes and leave while the artistes are still performing on the stage... Absolutely not... she came on time, sat through the program, proved that she was a true artist and connoisseur. Did I mention that I was one of thos einsignificant young dancer at that time (especially keeping in mind her stature as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Again memorable nostalgia, grateful to my mother, my Guru, Vempati Mastergaru for creating such opportunities for me. Thank You for reading through this and making a small detour into my memory lane, despite other imminent things that needed your focus. Credits & Keywords- Dr J Jayalalithaa, Ananda Shankar Jayant, Dr Vempati Chinna Satyam Kuchipudi Art Academy, Rathna Kumar, Sandhya Sree Do Not Copy, Copyrights Acknowledged, PriyaLasya, Hamara, (C), D16-26-7 |
