“The only learning I have done in my lifetime is dance,” said Bharatanatyam exponent Kalaimamani Indira Rajan on her visit to the capital city.
This 74-year-old veteran, who has had many a prominent dancer as her student, still has the gusto of a sixteen-year-old, when it comes to dance. Indira, who had given a nattuvangam demonstration followed by her Bharathanatyam performance at Swathi Thirunal College of Music here on the occasion of their music and dance fest ‘Sadhana’, said she never went to a school other than her dance school.
Indira had to leave her home and family to pursue dance at the tender age of six. She has learned the art in the hard way, the gurukul method, under Kutralam Kalai Kondal Ganesan Pillai. Hence, she finds today’s dancers dispassionate towards the art form. “Even though they were seen as nautch girls, the dancers of yesteryear held the art form in high esteem. Today’s youngsters are immersed in their studies. Hence, Bharathanatyam has lost its charm in the hands of these young dancers,” she said, by showing the right bhavas to be expressed for a particular kirthana.
The current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was once the student of this maestro. “Jayalalithaa used to perform very well. She was my uncle’s student at first. Then I had taught her for a year. When she discontinued she told me “If at all I feel like learning dance again I want to learn it from you”, said Indira. Indira’s VIP connections do not stop at Jayalalithaa, she was good friends with MGR as well.
“K J Yesudas used to tell me that he wants his daughter to learn dance from me, but he never had daughters. I adore Yesudas’ voice and he adores my music. We share a mutual respect,” said Indira about the legendary singer. She has garnered many awards and recognitions from around the world on her 68-year-long dance journey. Having a nattuvanar tradition to follow, Indira has learnt to render nattuvangam (playing the cymbals (thalam) for the Bharathanatyam performer) with the right pace and thalam from the time she has started giving independent performances.
With her nattuvangam skills she has accompanied the likes of Vyjayanthimala, Yamini Krishnamurthy and Alarmelvalli around the world and had even given them Bharathanatyam lessons at times.
“When Vyjayanthimala is extremely beautiful, nobody can match up the strength and presence of Yamini,” said Indira. She has taught many film stars as well in her illustrious career. Malayalam actors Vineeth and Jayabharathi are some of her favourites.