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   Bharatanatyam dancer, educator and scholar, Guru PREMCHAND HOMBAL (March 24, 1952 - April 19, 2025), son of renowned Guru Shankar Hombal, is no more. Possessing dual master's degrees in Bharatanatyam and Sanskrit, Guru Premchand Hombal's journey in dance began under the tutelage of his esteemed parents, Shankar Hombal and Girija Devi Hombal, who were disciples of Rukmini Devi Arundale and Mylapore Gauri Ammal. Furthering his training, he underwent rigorous advanced instruction at Kalakshetra, Chennai, supported by a scholarship awarded by the Government of India. Guru Premchand Hombal concluded his illustrious 36-year tenure in 2017 after working as the Head of the Department of Dance at the Faculty of Performing Arts, Banaras Hindu University for two consecutive terms. Guru Hombal was an outpost of Bharatanatyam in Banaras for long, after Guru C.V. Chandrasekhar. As the Head of Dance at BHU, he mentored many students and inspired generations. He also served as an Honorary Professor at Sri Sri University, Cuttack, bringing a wealth of expertise and experience. He was celebrated as a walking repository of Natyashastra knowledge in contemporary times. His profound expertise enabled him to choreograph and direct numerous dance dramas that have garnered acclaim at the national level. He showcased his skills both as a performer and director in numerous Sanskrit dramas. He choreographed iconic productions like Uttar Priyadarshi and directed Sanskrit plays like Abhigyana Shakuntalam. His last show took place two months ago in Neemrana group’s Fort Tijara. As a distinguished scholar, he was sought after to lend his expertise to various selection and educational committees, including the Board of Studies at several universities and institutes. He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2021 for his overall contribution to the performing arts. One of his sisters is senior Bharatanatyam talent Parijat living in Chicago, USA. He is survived by his wife Mala Hombal, elder daughter Medini Hombal and younger daughter Dharini Hombal. The SHRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA and Bharata Muni’s NATYASHASTRA have been inscribed in UNESCO’s MEMORY OF THE WORLD REGISTER - a global initiative that preserves documentary heritage of outstanding value. The Bhagavad Gita, a sacred dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, has long been regarded as a spiritual and philosophical cornerstone. The Natyashastra penned by sage Bharata Muni is considered the foundational text on performing arts, especially theatre, dance, and music.  SPIC MACAY and its founder DR. KIRAN SETH receive the 6TH NATYA VRIKSHA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD during its World Dance Day celebrations on April 26, 2025 at IIC, New Delhi.  Light Sense Art Foundation of Milind Srivastava conferred LIGHT DESIGNER AWARD on DEBIPRASAD MISHRA at Renaissance 2025 on April 17, 2025, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.  JANAK KHENDRY (1938-2025) An iconic Canadian artist of Indian origin, a visionary dancer, choreographer, and sculptor, JANAK KHENDRY, recipient of Excellence in Arts Award by CCAI, passed away on April 10, 2025 in India. He was proficient in four distinct Indian classical dance styles of Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Sattriya, Manipuri and also in western modern dance. He was renowned for his innovative approach to classical Indian dance, seamlessly blending traditional forms with contemporary themes. His works often delved into spiritual and philosophical narratives, reflecting his deep engagement with both Eastern and Western literary traditions. In 1978, Khendry founded the Janak Khendry Dance Company in New York, and the company was registered in Canada in 1981. JKDC in Toronto was a beacon of cross-cultural artistic exploration. Janak’s commitment to education and cultural exchange was evident in his collaborations with artists and institutions across the world. His legacy is not only preserved in his unique choreographic works but also in the countless dancers and students he has mentored throughout his life. He was a unique man of culture and fine arts, also known as a writer, glass sculptor and a connoisseur of Indian textile/visual arts. Khendry had a Master's Degree in sculpture from Ohio State University. He moved to Toronto in 1979 and opened The Glass Art Gallery (first gallery in Canada specializing in glass sculpture). His works are in private collections in India, USA, Canada and Europe. More info  Celebrated Kathak Guru KUMUDINI LAKHIA (17 May 1930 - 12 April 2025), founder of the Kadamb Centre for Dance in Ahmedabad, is no more. She had been ailing for some time. Kumiben (as she was fondly called) was trained by Shambhu Maharaj of the Lucknow gharana. In her younger days, she performed duets with Pt Birju Maharaj. After a distinguished profession as a solo dancer, she established Kadamb in 1964, which has produced many acclaimed dancers. It was at Kadamb that she focused her energies and vision on the development of the technique, vocabulary, and repertoire of Kathak dance. Starting with a small group of students whom she trained in a rigorous routine, she started doing choreography in 1973. Her endeavour was to transform the presentation of Kathak dance with innovative ways for contemporary expression. The Kadamb ensemble has toured extensively around the world where it has received critical acclaim and appreciation. Some of her eminent disciples include Aditi Mangaldas, Daksha Sheth, Maulik Shah and Ishira Parikh, Vaishali Trivedi, Rupanshi Thakkar, Parul Shah, Urja Desai Thakore and Gargi Shah. Kumiben has been honored with many awards including Padma Shri (1987) and Padma Bhushan (2010) and was honored on this Republic Day in Jan 2025 with the Padma Vibushan for her lifelong dedication to Kathak. She was also recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi award, Tagore Ratna from SNA, Kalidas Samman from govt of Madhya Pradesh, Guru Acchan Maharaj Award, Sumitra Charat Ram award, Bharat Muni award from Nalanda Dance Research Centre (Mumbai) and Gaurav Puraskar from the Gujarat government. Known for her unparalleled technical expertise and immense artistry, Kumiben spent a lifetime dedicated to learning, exploring, teaching and creating that has ensured her an enviable place in the history of Indian dance. More info: Kumudini Lakhia: The Kathak visionary who danced beyond tradition - Jumana Shah Kumudiniben, India's beacon of innovation in dance, left behind a legacy that transformed Kathak into a vibrant, contemporary art form.  Mohiniattam dancer DR. GEETA RADHAKRISHNA passed away on April 8, 2025. She was a scholar, writer, mentor and Yoga teacher. She obtained her doctorate degree from Mumbai University with the thesis ‘Narayaneeyam - Philosophy, Bhakti and Aesthetics’. She has choreographed solo dance drama on Narayaneeyam, Sanskrit classic about Lord Krishna by Narayana Bhattatripad, ‘Mary Magdalene’ (from The Holy Bible), ‘Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa’ etc. Some of the books written by Geeta are 'Mohiniattam - Adavus and Mudras,' 'Mohiniattam - dance of the enchantress,' 'Devi Mahatmyam - Mystic Powers of the Radiant Goddess,' a book of poems 'Prakriti Nrityam' and 'Jai Jai Natana Ganesha.' Her latest book was 'Ananda Siva Natanam - The blissful dance of Siva.'  RITA MUSTAPHI, Artistic Director of Katha Dance Theatre, will receive the DANCE/USA ERNIE AWARD, at the 2025 Dance/USA National Conference in Chicago, June 17-20, 2025.  Nadasutra Trust presented the NADASUTRA SAMMAN 2025 to musicologist and arts critic MANJARI SINHA on April 5, 2025 at Swami Vivekananda auditorium, Kathak Kendra, New Delhi.  On 3 April 2025, in Kolkata, GEETA CHANDRAN received Calcutta University's SANSKRIT SANSKRITI SAMMAN from the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Santa Dutta De.  Indian Fine Arts Academy, San Diego, will honor dancers NARTHAKI NATARAJ and JAYANTHI SUBRAMANIAM with VIDHYA NIDHI AWARD on April 12, 2025 at Garfield Theatre, Jewish Community Center, La Jolla, CA.  RAGHUNATH MANET received BEST FEATURE FILM AWARD at 11th NIFF (Nashik International Film Festival) for his Tala Sruti Films' Retour a Pondichery, on March 29, 2025.  The recipients of Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana awards KALA RATHNA: Bhavajan Kumar NRITHYA SEVA MANI: Vidya Sekhar NRITHYA KALA SAGARAM: Dr. S Divyasena NRITHYA RATNAKARA: Jayanthi Subramaniam  The KALAVEDI PURASKARA will be given to Guru PADMINI RAVI for her continued contribution towards the classical arts across the globe and in specific to Bharatnatyam in Karnataka, on April 20, 2025 at MES Kishor Kendra, Bangalore.  DR. SANDHYA PURECHA, the President of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, received the Honorary Doctorate of the Karnataka State Dr. Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University, Mysuru, on March 24, 2025 in the presence of Prof Sharanabasappa V. Halse, Prof. Nagesh V. Bettakote, Vice Chancellor, KSGH at Mysore.  Bharatanatyam dancer URMILA SATYANARAYANA is to receive the NRITYA KALANIDHI award from Madras Music Academy for 2025. MADAMBI SUBRAMANIA NAMBOODIRI will receive the TTK AWARD for Kathakali music.  Eminent Bharatanatyam Guru KUTTALAM M. SELVAM, son of Guru Muthuswamy Pillai, passed away on March 21, 2025. He was 75. Kuttalam M Selvam was born into a family of musicians and nattuvanars in 1950 in Kuttalam in Tamil Nadu. He was the director of Chevalier VS Muthuswamy Pillai Laya Natiya School in Chennai. Selvam was also a Lecturer in Nattuvangam (Retd), Govt Music College, Adyar in Chennai. When teaching, he created a unique repertoire for each student, highlighting their abilities and talents.  On March 23, 2025 at Gyan Manch, Kolkata, Chidakash Kalalay presented: CHIDAKASH NATYAKALA CHUDAMANI SAMMAN: Nandini Ramani CHIDAKASH NRITYAKALA CHUDAMANI SAMMAN: Mysore B Nagaraj CHIDAKASH KALASHIROMANI SAMMAN: Ashimbandhu Bhattacharya  On March 17, 2025 dancer METHIL DEVIKA received the DRIVERS OF CHANGE award, presented by India Today and the Mahindra & Mahindra group, at an event in Mumbai.  For his invaluable and continued contribution, participation and dedication to Bhagavata Mela, N SRIKANTH NATARAJAN is to be honoured with SATRAJITI PURASKARAM on 23rd April 2025 at Annamayya Kala Vedhika, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, on the occasion of International Dance Day celebrations.  On March 17, 2025 at the 31st Guru Pankaj Utsav at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar, the following awards were given. GAUNI SAMPRADA for DR. MITALI CHINARA (Odissi music and vocal) MADELI SAMMAN for BUDDHANATH SWAIN (Odissi mardal) BINAKARA SAMMAN for DR. DHIRAJ KUMAR MOHAPATRA (Odissi music and composition) NACHUNI SAMPRADA for SRIPARNA BOSE (Odissi dance) MAHARI AWARD for JANHABI BEHERA was given on March 19, 2025.  Costume designer SNEHASHISH BHATTACHARYA of brand Darzee, passed away on March 10, 2025 at Kolkata. He was a favoured designer for the Sapphire Dance Company.  PT RAJENDRA GANGANI received the NISHAGANDHI PURASKARAM at Kanakakkunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, on February 14, 2025.  Dancer SHANTHA RATII, director of Shantha Ratii Initiatives, Singapore, was honored by The Times of India with the TIMES POWER ICON award on March 10, 2025 at The Hyatt, Delhi, in the category of Art and culture.  As a part of JAYACHANDRAN SURENDRAN’s Ph.D. research, through which a method was designed to teach form-neutral and style-neutral universal dance fundamentals, a ‘Dance Teaching Tool’ was designed. After a thorough scrutiny, this tool was granted Patency from the India Patent Office. He had the support and guidance of his Research Supervisor Prof. Vinoo Alluri, Asst. Professor, Cognitive Science Lab, IIIT, Hyderabad.  On Women's Day, 8 March 2025, Delhi Tamil Sangam honoured GEETA CHANDRAN with a Lifetime Achievement Tiara, Medal, and Certificate.  Mulakanadu Maha Sangha presented the SRI THYAGARAJA RATHNA 2025 to music and dance critic Dr. M SURYA PRASAD on March 16, 2025 at Bangalore. Nalanda Dance Research Centre awarded the following during its Nalanda Nrityotsava held between January 10 – 13, 2025 at Mumbai. BHARATA MUNI AWARD: singer Dr Suresh Wadkar, Kathak dancer Sunayana Hazarilal. KANAKA NARTANA PURASKAR: Kathak dancer Gauri Sharma Tripathi, Bharatanatyam exponent Gayatri Sriram, Manipuri exponent Latasana Devi, Odissi Guru Rabindra Atibudhi, Sai Venkatesh (President of Karnataka Nritya Kala Parishath) and critic Vijay Shanker. NALANDA NRITYA NIPUNA AWARD: Bharatanatyam dancers Kavya Pujara from Ahmedabad, Simran Cherayil from Mumbai, Kartik Manikandan from Kerala, Varun Shivakumar from Chennai, and Anushkaa Ramanatan from Mumbai. Kathak dancer Rutuja Nadkarni from Mumbai, Nayanika Gangani from Haryana, S Vaidegi and Ananya Mohan Iyer, both from Bangalore, Mohiniattam dancer Thomas Vo Van Tao, Odissi dancer Tamal Das.  KIRUTHIKA RATHANASWAMI, disciple of Jai Govinda, is the new artistic director of Mandala Arts and Culture, Vancouver. “As the founder and Artistic Director of Mandala Arts and Culture for the past 25 years, I am very happy to officially announce that long time graduate of the Jai Govinda Dance Academy, Kiruthika Rathanaswami, will now be the new artistic director of Mandala. I am very happy that Kiruthika has accepted this role of leadership, and I will continue to give her and Mandala Arts and Culture my full support. Kiruthika has been under my mentorship for the past 3 years to prepare her for this position. The mandate of Mandala remains the same, and all the Bharata Natyam classes will continue as usual. The announcement was officially made at our last AGM on March 1, 2025,” says Jai Govinda in his official announcement.  New Nritta / Nritya Karanas are a new attraction at Dakshinachitra, The Heritage Museum at Muttukkadu, Chennai. Recently Bharata Kalanjali has installed a few Noothana (new) Karana sculptures and more are to be added in due course. Senior Natyacharyas are invited to join this monumental project by installing new Nritta / Nritya Karanas created by them in their choreographic work. This will benefit present and future generations to understand the changing nature of arts from generation to generation. For more details, contact Natyacharya V.P. Dhananjayan (bkalanjali@gmail.com).  SANATAN SANGEET PURASKAR was conferred on Kathak dancer RAGINI MAHARAJ and performer-artist AARUSHI BHARGAVA on March 1, 2025 by Sanatan Sangeet Sanskriti at New Delhi.  Bharatanatyam Guru Padmini Ravi to receive the SHANTALA NATYA PRASHASTI by the Govt of Karnataka.  Nalanda Dance Research Centre, Mumbai, bestowed NALANDA NRITYA NIPUNA on S Vaidegi of Articulate Dance Studio, in January 2025. The list of Padma awardees was announced on Jan 25, 2025 and includes the following awardees in the field of dance/art.  PADMA VIBHUSHAN: Kumudhini Lakhia (Kathak)  PADMA BHUSHAN: Jatin Goswami (Sattriya), Shobana Chandrakumar (Bharatanatyam), Nalli Kuppuswami Chetty (Art patron)  PADMA SHRI: Bharat Gupt (scholar), Durga Charan Ranbir (Odissi), Mamata Shankar (Uday Shankar style), Purisai Kannappa Sambandan (Therukoothu), Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi (Manipuri), 96 year old Bhimavva (Togalu Gombeyaata – shadow puppetry)  Odissi dancer SUJATA MOHAPATRA, Bharatanatyam dancer DR. SUPARNA VENKATESH, Kathak dancer DEEPA KARTHA were honored with the SREE MUDRA NATIONAL AWARD 2025 (by Sree Mudra Kala Gurukulam & Chithra Arts Foundation) at Sree Mohananadanam National Dance Festival, on Feb 1/2, 2025 at Perambavoor, Kochi, Kerala. NATYA KALA PRATHIBHA AWARD went to Mohiniattam dancer SANDHYA RAJAN and Andhra Natyam dancer LOKA CHANDRASEKHAR, NATYA MOHANA PRATHIBHA AWARD to Bharatanatyam dancer SHWETA VENKATESH.  Sonal Mansingh to receive SRIMANTA SANKARDEVA AWARD, the highest honor given by govt of Assam once in 3 years.  The KALIDAS SAMMAN of Govt of Madhya Pradesh goes to Dr. Sandhya Purecha and Pandit Uday Bhawalkar. The other awardees include: Sudha Raghuraman (RASHTRIYA KUMAR GANDHARVA SAMMAN), Kalpana Zokarkar and Pt Akhilesh Gundecha (SHIKHAR SAMMAN). Highlights ; Obituaries |
