AlejandroQkj at 21:08, 2 March 2026

2026-03-02T21:08:50Z

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{{Short description|Indian classical dancer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Anila Sunder
| image = AnilaSunder3.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| othername =
| birth_name = Anila Makhijani
| birth_date =
| birth_place = India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| occupation = Kathak and Odisi dancer
| yearsactive =
| known for = Sindhi Ballets
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
| children =
| parents =
| awards =
| website =
}}
'''Anila Sunder''' is an Indian classical dancer - [[Kathak]] and [[Odissi]] exponent<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kathak dancer Anila Sunder to perform at a cultural event organised by Suhini Sindhi Sanstha in Mumbai - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/music-events/anila-sunder-to-dance-in-mumbai/articleshow/28682265.cms|access-date=2021-09-19|website=The Times of India|date=17 January 2014 |language=en}}</ref> - belonging to the [[Sindhis in India|Sindhi]] community.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=July 1985|title=Meet Anila Sunder a Danseuse of grace and charm|work=Bharat Ratna|url=http://anilasunder.com/images/media/m32.jpg}}</ref> She has experimented with various themes and has incorporated few aspects of the Indian folk dance to give shape to the Sindhi dance drama.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Das|first=Ujjayini|date=November 2003|title=Bridge Across Forever|work=[[The Indian Express]]|url=http://anilasunder.com/images/media/m23.jpg}}</ref> Some of her ballets include ''Sindhu'' that depicted the lost civilization of Mohenjodaro, ''Sikka Sajan Jee'' – love legends of Sindh, ''Theeu Na Juda Jani Munkhaan'' – questioning of love versus wealth, and ''Sindh Munhinjee Amma'' - narrated stories of the trials and tribulations of Sindhis from the India partition days.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Srivastava|first=Abha|date=February 2002|title=Cuff Parade's Dancing Queen|work=Downtown Plus|url=http://anilasunder.com/zoom.php?dir=media&image=m26.jpg}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Anila Sunder was born on 11 November 1951 in [[Ulhasnagar]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=August 2002|title=सिंधी लोकनृत्य में पगी एक कत्थक शैली|work=[[Navbharat Times]]|url=http://anilasunder.com/images/media/m19.jpg}}</ref> to medical practitioners Dr.Nanki and Dr.Gobind Makhijani. She obtained a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology at Mumbai University and was a lecturer at [[Jai Hind College]], Mumbai. She graduated the Kathak Examination from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad at the age of 11.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Anila Sunder {{!}} Sindhi Sangat|url=https://www.sindhisangat.com/anila.php|access-date=2021-09-19|website=www.sindhisangat.com}}</ref> She trained under the gurus Hazarilal<ref name=":3" /> and Damayanti Joshi, and later under Vijay Kumar Shreshtha.<ref name=":1" />

== Career ==
She made her debut in the inter-collegiate classical dance competition at a Youth Festival organised by the University of Bombay in 1968.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Sindhi Artist, Sindhi Kalakar Anila Sunder Details|url=https://sindhyat.com/artist/Anila%20Sunder|access-date=2021-09-19|website=sindhyat.com|language=en}}</ref> In 1971, she visited Japan as a Youth Exchange programme student sponsored by Lions Club of Bombay.<ref name=":4" /> Anila later learned Odissi from the gurus Natbar Maharana and Shankar Behra.<ref name=":0" /> She performed in 1999 at the ''Sixth International Sindhi Sammelan (Convention)'' in Orlando and with Long Island Sindhi Association in New York. In 1998 and 2000, she performed in [[Leh]] at ''Sindhu Darshan Mahotsav''.<ref name=":2" /> Apart from India and USA, Anila has performed in various countries like Japan, West Africa, UAE, Scandinavian countries, and United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reporter|first=A. Staff|title=Sindhi community to usher in new year in style|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/general/sindhi-community-to-usher-in-new-year-in-style|access-date=2021-09-19|website=Khaleej Times|language=en}}</ref>

== Dance ballets ==

=== Sindhiyat Jee Surhan ===
Sindhiyat Jee Surhan translates to ‘''Fragrance of the Sindhi Way of Life’''. Anila based it on popular Sindhi festivals like ''Thadri'' that occurs on the eve of ''Janmashtami'', ''Teejri'', another festival which is an equivalent of [[Karva Chauth]] among Punjabis of India, [[Uttaran]], a festival that coincides with [[Makar Sankranti]], and also Cheti Chand which is the [[New Year's Day|New Year's day]] for Sindhis and the birth day of the deity Jhulelal.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|last=Jotswani|first=Motilal|date=March 1986|title=Anila Sunder - a gifted Kathak Dancer|work=The Evening News|url=http://www.anilasunder.com/zoom.php?dir=media&image=m2.jpg}}</ref>

=== Sindhi Munhinjee Amma ===
Sindhi Munhinjee Amma brings to light the India-Pakistan partition and the impact of it on the Sindhi community, that went through the tragedy and trauma of being uprooted, to be settled in India. Anila plays a woman who was born in Sindh and goes through the turmoil of the partition.<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 1999|title=Lahore Declaration rekindles Anila's hope to realise her dream: a performance in Sindh|work=[[The Indian Express]]|url=http://www.anilasunder.com/images/media/m5.jpg}}</ref>

=== Sikka Sajan Jee ===
Sikka Sajan Jee translates to ‘''Longing for the Loved One''’. This dance ballet is based on the stories of the six heroines of the immortal Sindhi Sufi poet [[Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai|Shah Abdul Latif]]. Anila depicts the yearning of ''Moomal'', the agony of ''Sasui'', the chastity of ''Maruee'', the ecstasy of ''Noori'', the repentance of ''Leelan'', and the courage of ''Suhini''.<ref name=":4" />

=== Theeu Na Juda Jani Munkhaan ===
This dance ballet takes its inspiration from ‘Sur Saamoondi’, written by the Sindhi poet Shah Abdul Latif.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 1986|title=विद जी पायल छमकैन्दी|work=Navbharat Times|url=http://www.anilasunder.com/zoom.php?dir=media&image=m20.jpg}}</ref> Nai Duniya reported the presentation to be impressive and enchanting during one of the performances.<ref>{{Cite news|title=सिंधी नृत्य नाटिका की मोहक प्रस्तुति|work=Nai Duniya|url=http://www.anilasunder.com/zoom.php?dir=media&image=m21.jpg}}</ref>

=== Geet Govind ===
She also performed a Hindi version of [[Gita Govinda|Geet Govind]] that was translated by professor Setpal. The ballet narrated the stories and emotions between Radha and Krishna.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Involved Portrayal|work=[[Times of India]]|url=http://www.anilasunder.com/zoom.php?dir=media&image=m66.jpg}}</ref>

=== Zaal . . . Kadenh Zer, Kadenh Zabar! ===
This dance ballet depicts the various forms and stages from the life of a woman, i.e. of a child, a beloved, a wife and a mother. Issues of assault, oppression and infanticide are highlighted. "The beauty of Anila Sunder's expressions was worth seeing. Through the presentation, the artists displayed that a woman is not weak. Rather she has the power of goddesses like Saraswati, Durga and Kali." a journalist wrote from Weekend Plus.<ref>{{Cite news |title=बैले में किया नारी जीवन का चित्रण |work=Weekend Plus Metro |url=http://www.anilasunder.com/images/media/17.png}}</ref>

=== Sindhu Dhaara ===
This historical dance drama depicts the culture, heritage and era of an ancient civilization that flourished on the banks of the river Indus. "Anila Sunder showcased glimpses of the history of Sindh and the tragedy of partition through her dance. Amidst the unmatched synergy of sound and light, the audience was immersed in glimpses of the culture, that is Sindh." reported a journalist from [[Hari Bhoomi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parampara va Sanskriti Ke Dikhe Rang |url=http://www.anilasunder.com/images/media/m46.jpg |website=[[Hari Bhoomi]]}}</ref>

== Charitable performances ==
Anila Sunder also actively performed for social causes. In 1975, Anila performed in Nigeria for a fund raiser organized by Indian Women Residents in Lagos for the National Women Society of Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite news|title=N 2000 Collected|work=[[Independent Nigeria]]|url=http://anilasunder.com/images/media/m56.jpg}}</ref> In India, she performed for the cancer hospital in Jabalpur in 2001<ref>{{Cite news|title=Dancer Anila Sunder to perform for Cancer Hospital|work=[[The Hitavada]]|url=http://anilasunder.com/images/media/m54.jpg}}</ref> and also for raising funds for ''Kanyadan'' of poor girls in Bombay.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Bombay Sindhi Dance Ballet|work=[[Femina (India)]]|url=http://anilasunder.com/images/media/m57.jpg}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sunder, Anila}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Ulhasnagar]]
[[Category:Kathak dancers]]
[[Category:Odissi dancers]]
[[Category:Indian Sindhi people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Anila Sunder - Revision history

AlejandroQkj at 21:08, 2 March 2026