Kumudini Lakhia has left this world! Even while the Kathak world in particular mourn their great loss, I feel that the entire dance world needs to celebrate the work of an inimitable artiste who, while not going against the classical tenets of her dance tradition, managed to give it an entirely new face, universally accepted. I remember seeing her first group production 'The Coat' based on Sarveshwar Dayal's work 'The Coat', in an SNA sponsored New Dance Festival, which left me amazed with the kind of creative imagination giving rise to such a production.
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Kumudini jee is a phenomena in the field of Kathak brining fresh waves exploiting maximum the idiom's potential. A revolutionary in true sense taking the Kathak technique on par with the other naatya traditions, otherwise confined to 'chakkars' thihais. Kathak evolved as a theatrical form only with Kadam's innovative choreographic group productions after Kumudinijee returned attending a Russian Ballet workshops under Government of India scholarship . She brought revolutionary changes in "aahaaryaabhinaya" as well, with consummate Indian aesthetic senses. We came to know of her from her prime disciples Ishira Parek and her husband Maulikshash & couple of other Kadamb artists who were part of Pt.
ReplyDeleteRavishankar's magnum opus "Ghanashyam" musical theatre. Kumudinijee was magnanimous in sharing her wonderful artistes to join our Bharatakalanjali team.
Artists will come and go but a few remain etched in the memories of generations to come , and Kumudini Bhen is one such artiste. Wish her soul to rest peace.