Kathak Guru PRABHA MARATHE passed away on December 31, 2025 aged 89. She was the ace disciple of guru Birju Maharaj and first lot in Delhi at Kathak Kendra in the 1960s. She also created Pune's biggest (in land size) dance school - Kala Chhaya in 1965 - where many artistes got platformed in music and dance like Bhimsen Joshi, Amjad Ali Khan and others. She engaged Guru Munnalal Shukla to teach Lucknow gharana for years. She gave space to workshops by Prerna Shrimali and all other gharanas. The space had amphitheatre, exhibition galleries and more. Her niece Rashmi Jangam rook charge in the last decade to run it. Prabha Marathe is credited with popularising and documenting the techniques of Kathak She will be remembered by the art fraternity of Pune as a pioneer and patron.
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Thanks Ashish ji for your Obi 🙏 you take me back to the year 1990 when I did my first professional debut at Kala Chhaya under Guru Munna Lal Shukla Ji in the presence of Prabha Marathe Ji. And it has been my Fortune and good luck that I could perform in front of her last year 2024 on the 7th December to celebrate Guru Laal Shukla birthday on the Invite of Rashmi Ji, some golden moments have been weaved into my life at Kala Chhaya under very blessing of Prabha Marathe ji.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ashish ji for your Obi 🙏 you take me back to the year 1990 when I did my first professional debut at Kala Chhaya under Guru Munna Lal Shukla Ji in the presence of Prabha Marathe Ji. And it has been my Fortune and good luck that I could perform in front of her last year 2024 on the 7th December to celebrate Guru Laal Shukla birthday on the Invite of Rashmi Ji, some golden moments have been weaved into my life at Kala Chhaya under very blessing of Prabha Marathe ji.
ReplyDeleteAlaknanda kathak. New Delhi