To watch Balasaraswati dance was a transcendental experience, said N. Murali, president of the Music Academy, here on Friday.
While speaking at the Natya Samaradhanam organised by Dr. V. Raghavan Centre for Performing Arts to commemorate the centenary year of the Bharatanatyam exponent, he said she remains a legend and noted that people praise her art even 34 years after her death. “What truly set her apart was her radical foray into music, as well as dance. She was as much a musician as a dancer. She was a queen of bharatanatyam,” he said.
Five artists — nattuvangam exponent K. Ramiah, veena exponent R. Ramani, vocalist Sarayu Srinivasan, flautist P. V. Ramana and make-up artist Lakshmi Tilakji — were honoured.
Dancer and academician C.V. Chandrasekhar recollected how he took to bharatanatyam after being inspired by her. “It was at a wedding that I saw her dance and as a child, I was so mesmerised that I immediately wanted to learn the art form,” he said.
‘Born genius’
Bharatanatyam exponent Padma Subrahmaniam said Balasaraswati was a born genius who always spotted talent and appreciated it. Disciples of Balasaraswati, Priyamvadha Shankar and Nandini Ramani, spoke on the occasion. A short film on Balasaraswati was screened.
