Adyar K. Lakshman

Adyar K. Lakshman (16 December 1933 – 19 August 2014)[1] was a noted Indian Bharatnatyam dancer, choreographer and guru.[2][3][4]

Adyar K. Lakshman
Born
Adyar K. Lakshman

(1933-12-16)16 December 1933
Kuppam, Madras Presidency, British India
Died19 August 2014(2014-08-19) (aged 80)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
NationalityIndian
EducationKalakshetra
Known forBharathanatyam, Indian Classical Music
Notable workAlarippu, Pushpanjali
AwardsPadma Shri (1989)
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1991)

Early life

Born on 16 December 1933, Adyar K. Lakshman hails from Kuppam in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. His father, Krishnaraja Rao, was posted there as a school teacher. Lakshman and his brother Rama Rao were discovered at a young age by P.D. Doraiswamy Iyer, a representative of Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, the founder of the world acclaimed fine arts college Kalakshetra. The young boys showed unusual musical and rhythmic talent, and were offered a thorough education in the Fine Arts. Lakshman's father was only too happy to accept the offer made by Kalakshetra.[5]

Early education and training

Adyar Lakshman began his education at Kalakshetra in 1944 at the young age of 11 years. He underwent vigorous training in vocal music, Bharatha Natyam, Mridangam and Nattuvangam under the able tutelage of eminent teachers. He had the good fortune to receive his early training and exposure to the Classical arts from Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale herself. He has also been closely associated with other great masters in the field, including Mylapore Gowri Ammal, K. N. Dandayudhapani Pillai, S. Saradha, Tiger Varadachari, Budalur Krishnamoorthy Sastrigal, T. K. Ramaswamy Iyengar, Mysore Vasudevacharya, Tanjore Rajagopala Iyer, V. Vital, Kamalarani, and Karaikudi Muthu Iyer. Eventually, he graduated in 1954 from Kalashetra in Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music and nattuvangam; though stayed on in Kalakshetra, and received a Government of India scholarship, and went on to receive a post-graduate diploma in 1956.

Thereafter he went on to specialise in mridangam and also learnt Kathakali from Ambu Panicker, and Chandu Panicker. Subsequently, he was cast by Rukmini Devi in prominent Kalakshetra productions like, "Kumara Sambhavam", "Kutrala Kuravanji", "Sita Swayamvaram" and "Usha Parinayam", based on the Melattur Bhagavata Mela tradition.[6]

Career

Lakshman's first ventured into teaching outside Kalakshetra in Vyjayantimala Bali's school, Natyalaya. Here over period of more than a decade, he conducted over ten arangetrams, assisted in productions like "Tiruppavai", "Azhagar Kuravanji", "Chandalika" and "Sanga Tamil Malai".

Academy

Founded the Bharatha Choodamani Academy of Fine arts on 22 August 1969. He has trained a wide variety of dancers and many professionals and produced dance drama productions like "Varunapuri Kuravanji", "Aiychiar Kuravai," etc. He has also choreographed classical dance sequences in films like "Hamsa Geethe", "Subba Sastri" and "Ananda Tandavam".[6][7]

Awards

Adyar Lakshman has received several awards for his outstanding contribution to the art of Bharatha Nayam, as a dance guru, choreographer, composer and nattuvanar. He received the Padma Shri award from the president of India in 1989, and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (Bharatnatyam) in 1991 by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music Dance & Drama.[8]

References
  1. "Dance doyen passes away". The Hindu. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  2. "Singing paeans to a guru". The Hindu. 25 December 2009.
  3. "Adyar K. Lakshman conferred the 'Nadhabrahmam' title". The Hindu. 15 December 2008. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008.
  4. "To Sir with love". The Hindu. 17 December 2009.
  5. "A picture of poise". The Hindu. 13 March 2009. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012.
  6. "Inimitable dance guru". The Hindu. 1 December 2003. Archived from the original on 6 December 2003.
  7. ""Bharatanatyam growth to be exponential" (Interview)". The Hindu. 13 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2 August 2008.
  8. "Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar (Akademi Awards)". Sangeet Natak Akademi. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012.
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