close
Choose your channels
Home » Cinema News » Amitabh Bachchan: 'Kathak Legend Sitara Devi was filled with essence of rhythm and movement'

Amitabh Bachchan: 'Kathak Legend Sitara Devi was filled with essence of rhythm and movement'

Wednesday, November 26, 2014 • Tamil Comments
#Amitabh Bachchan
Listen to article
--:-- / --:--
1x
This is a beta feature and we would love to hear your feedback?
Send us your feedback to audioarticles@vaarta.com
With demise of Kathak Legend` Sitara Devi at the ripe age of 94, the dancing world lost its greatest Kathak Queen. Mourning her death Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan lamented, "The death of Sitara Devi is very sad. She was a legendary classical dancer, vibrant, and filled with the essence of rhythm and movement".
Born in early 1920 in a Brahmin family, Sitara Devi inherited the dance form from her father, Sukhadev Maharaj, a Kathak performer and teacher. However in those days girls performing dance were looked down and labeled as prostitutes. However her father encouraged her to continue citing example of Radha dancing for Lord Krishna. Thus for, Sitara Devi, Katha was spiritual and devotional.
Listen to Amitabh Bachchan Songs on Raaga.com
Though the society discarded her initially as a prostitute but her confidence was boosted when Nobel laureate and great freedom fighter Rabindranath Tagore bestowed her with the title of Nritya Samragini` or Kathak Queen` of the India.
Sitara Devi (and later Gopi Krishna) gave a new dimension to Kathak in Bollywood. It was due to her that kathak became integral to the film industry since the 1930s. Their choreography accorded new meaning and relief to the film world. She did many movies like "USHA HARAN" (1940), "NAGINA" (1951), "ROTI" and "VATAN" (BOTH 1954), "ANJALI" (1957) AND THE EPIC "MOTHER INDIA" (1957).
She taught her Kathak style to some of the Bollywood film celebrities such as Madhubala, Mala Sinha, Rekha, Kajol and many more.
Eminent choreographer Saroj Khan praising the Kathak dance of Sitara Devi, on her demise mourned, "Kathak is an important dance form in Bollywood and it was Sitara Devi, who gave a momentum to this form in cinema. Today we do see actresses performing Kathak but its purity is missing. The purity was visible when Sitara Devi used to dance."
Mourning her death India's Nightingale Lata Mangeshkar tweeted "I feel profound grief upon hearing of the demise of famous dancer, performer and singer Sitara Devi. May god bless her soul."
PM Narendra Modi too recalled her rich contribution to Kathak.
She has awarded with the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1969, the Padma Shree award in 1973, Kalidas Samman award in 1995 and Nritya Nipuna award. She has awarded for performing at the Royal Albert and Victoria Hall in 1967 and for prestigious Carnegie Hall, New York in 1976.

This article is from Raaga's music blog. Read more at http://blog.raaga.com

Follow us on Google News and stay updated with the latest!   

Comments

Welcome to IndiaGlitz comments! Please keep conversations courteous and relevant to the topic. To ensure productive and respectful discussions, you may see comments from our Community Managers, marked with an "IndiaGlitz Staff" label. For more details, refer to our community guidelines.
settings
Login to post comment
Cancel
Comment

Headlines

T.S. Balaiya made M.G.R. a hero... narrated by Jai Balaiya Ganesh. T.S. Balaiya made M.G.R. a hero... narrated by Jai Balaiya Ganesh.
Sivakarthikeyan has a strong interest in drama... The reason behind my success is Kamal... says Crazy Mohan. Sivakarthikeyan has a strong interest in drama... The reason behind my success is Kamal... says Crazy Mohan.
It was wrong for Savitri to love Gemini. Everyone has a dark side... says actor Rajesh. It was wrong for Savitri to love Gemini. Everyone has a dark side... says actor Rajesh.
In Andhra, Gemini was the villain, and there was emotional pain with her sister... Savitri's daughter Vijaya Chamundeswari. In Andhra, Gemini was the villain, and there was emotional pain with her sister... Savitri's daughter Vijaya Chamundeswari.
GHMC Cracks Down on Unauthorized Wall Posters and Writings in Hyderabad GHMC Cracks Down on Unauthorized Wall Posters and Writings in Hyderabad
Looking at Crazy Mohan's dialogues, I developed an inferiority complex... explains Visu. Looking at Crazy Mohan's dialogues, I developed an inferiority complex... explains Visu.
Love letters in bundles... it was women who pursued him... - Kamala Selvaraj Love letters in bundles... it was women who pursued him... - Kamala Selvaraj
Why did you choose alcohol as your companion, Amma?... Jayachitra on Nadigaiyar Thilagam (Savitri) Why did you choose alcohol as your companion, Amma?... Jayachitra on Nadigaiyar Thilagam (Savitri)
The truth that Sowcar Janaki says: 'If a biopic of politicians is made, it will stink The truth that Sowcar Janaki says: 'If a biopic of politicians is made, it will stink
Essential Things to Know About Homam | Spiritual Speaker Vijaykumar Essential Things to Know About Homam | Spiritual Speaker Vijaykumar
The astrologer said that I will act till the end of my life... Vennira Aadai Moorthy The astrologer said that I will act till the end of my life... Vennira Aadai Moorthy
Vel Maaral Maha Mantra: The Power of Murugan and Its Transformative Effects on Your Life! Vel Maaral Maha Mantra: The Power of Murugan and Its Transformative Effects on Your Life!