 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
What also helped in the spread of the popularity of
Bharatanatyam was the Freedom Movement. Bharatanatyam dances to
patriotic songs became so popular that even convent schools encouraged
tiny tots to learn the songs and dances and perform them during school
culturals. |
|
While in Madras, Tara Chaudhri ran a school and even
danced in two Tamil movies. In AVM’s ‘Vedhala Ulagam’ in 1948, she
danced to the choreography of Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai. In
‘Paarijatham,’ directed by K.S. Gopalakrishnan in 1950, Tara was seen in
the dance sequences. In both the films, she shared the screen with the
famous Travancore sisters, Padmini and Ragini. (‘The forgotten Pavlova of Punjab’ by Veejay Sai, the Hindu Friday Review, Aug 29, 2014) |
|
It is interesting to note that Shiva and Parvati are often depicted in
ancient sculptures, such as those at Mohenjo Daro and Harappa as one
composite figure, half male, half female, known as the Ardhanariswara
Nataraja. Lord Shiva himself wears a man’s ornament in one ear and a
woman’s ornament in the other, showing that since the beginning of
time, dancing has been a rite performed by both men and women. (‘Indian dancing’ by Ram Gopal & Serozh Dadachanji) |
 |