Reverential homage in Kamalini Samaradhanam spearheaded by Manasa - Art Without Frontiers - Taalam: column by Leela Venkataraman

Exactly a year after she left this world for her heavenly abode, those who had the opportunity of working with Kamalini Dutt, paid reverential homage to a person who defied being categorized. Guru, mentor, choreographer, Doordarshan producer, aesthetic and spiritual guide, artistic collaborator, most valued friend et al, Kamalini represented above all human qualities of immeasurable value. An unfortunate accident having put paid to an active performing career in dance in the seventies, for one who had mastered the art under renowned Sikkil Ramaswamy Pillai, and had her arangetram when she was a seven year old, with over two years spent on mastering a varnam, without giving in to self-pity, she set about carving an equally, if not more valuable future for herself - transferring her considerable energies to spreading the message of Indian dance to the general public, through her work in Doordarshan.

Who can forget the innumerable National Programs of Dance and Music, she presided over? With her mastery over how the camera looked at movement, she released more than a thousand productions. Apart from ushering in new trends, her expertise in being able to control and direct multiplicity of cameras in a program, cut out a great deal of needless work at the editing table. And later as Deputy Director General of Central Doordarshan Archives, the material she collected and left behind, particularly for dissemination, remains unparalleled. All this, while suffering in stoic silence, acute physical pain and discomfort from rheumatoid arthritis.

One has to note that it was left to Sharon Lowen, an American citizen, who spent years learning Odissi under Kelucharan Mohapatra, and has made India her home, teaching Odissi, to mount this evening of homage, which no other Indian amongst the many who benefited from Kamalini's instructions, had thought of. 

Read more in the site

Please type your name along with your comment. Anonymous and derogatory comments are likely to be removed.