>Kanags at 09:01, 11 June 2021

2021-06-11T09:01:50Z

New page

{{short description|Indian dancer and actress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kumari Kamala
| image = Kumari Kamala.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| alt =
| caption = Kumari Kamala in the early 1950s
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1934|6|16}}
| birth_place = [[Mayuram]], [[Madras Presidency]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Indian
| other_names = Baby Kamala, Kamla Laxman, Kamala Laxman, Kamala Lakshman, Kamala Narayan, Kamala Lakshmi Narayanan
| known_for =
|spouse =
{{plainlist |
* [[R. K. Laxman]] (divorced 1960)
* T. V. Lakshminarayanan
* }}
| occupation = Dancer, actress
}}
'''Kumari Kamala''' (born 16 June 1934) is an Indian dancer and actress (also known as Kamala Lakshman). Initially featured as a child dancer, Kamala appeared in almost 100 [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Hindi]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Kannada]] films throughout her career. In the 1970s, she became a teacher of the [[Vazhuvoor]] style of dance in which she specialises.

== Early life and career ==
She was born at [[Mayuram]], India.<ref>{{cite book|last=Menon|first=Indira|title=The Madras quartet: women in Karnatak music|year=1999|publisher=Roli Books|isbn=81-7436-078-6|pages=55}}</ref> Her sisters Rhadha and Vasanti are also dancers. At an early age Kamala began taking lessons in the [[Kathak]] dance style from [[Lachhu Maharaj]] in Bombay. She also took lessons in [[Hindustani classical music]] from Shankar Rao Vyas. She was discovered at age four by Tamil film director [[A.N. Kalyanasundaram Iyer]] when he attended a dance recital. He cast her in small roles in his films ''[[Valibar Sangham]]'' (1938) and ''Ramanama Mahimai'' (1939) where she was billed as '''Kamala'''.<ref name=hindu/> Her dancing was noticed by other filmmakers and she moved to [[Bollywood|Hindi films]] with ''[[Jailor (1938 film)|Jailor]]'' in 1938 and ''[[Kismet (1943 film)|Kismet]]'' and ''[[Ram Rajya]]'' in 1943. Kamala's mother moved to [[Madras]] so her daughter could train under the [[Bharatanatyam]] teachers [[Kattumannarkoil Muthukumara Pillai]] and [[Vazhuvoor B. Ramaiyah Pillai]]. Kamala's first role in a successful Tamil film came in 1944 with ''[[Jagathalaprathapan (1944 film)|Jagathalaprathapan]]'' where she performed the [[Paampu attam]]. Kamala played a double role in her next film ''Sri Valli'' (1945) and also played [[Krishna]] in the film ''[[Meera (1945 film)|Meera]]''. However, it was her film ''[[Nam Iruvar]]'' that would make an impact on Tamil cinema. ''Nam Iruvar'' was full of patriotism and [[Gandhism|Gandhian]] songs, and its dances helped to revitalize and legitimize Bharatanatyam. The film is credited with sparking a "cultural revolution" throughout the Tamil speaking areas of India.<ref name=hindu>{{cite news|last=Guy|first=Randor |title=She danced her way to stardom |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/01/07/stories/2002010700100200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020324173526/http://hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/01/07/stories/2002010700100200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2002 |access-date=25 July 2011 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 January 2002}}</ref>

In 1953, Kamala was invited to perform for Queen [[Elizabeth II]] during her coronation festivities.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cour|first1=Aparna|title=Directory of Indian women today|year=1976|publisher=India International Publications|pages=28|author2=Ajīta Kaura}}</ref> In the late 1950s she toured internationally, performing in China and Japan. In 1970, the government of India awarded her the [[Padma Bhushan]], India's third highest civilian award.<ref name=kumar>{{cite news|last=Kumar|first=Ranee|title=The danseuse from 'Kismet'|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/07/14/stories/2006071401230300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707062247/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/07/14/stories/2006071401230300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2007|access-date=26 July 2011|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=14 July 2006}}</ref> She also taught dance for two terms at [[Colgate University]] after being awarded its Branta Professorship in 1975. In 1980, Kamala moved to [[New York City]] permanently and began teaching classical dance.<ref name=kumari>{{cite web|title='Kumari' Kamala Bharatanatyam Dancer|url=http://www.kutcheribuzz.com/features/interviews/kkamala.asp|publisher=Kutcher Buzz.com|access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> She established a dance school in [[Long Island]], Shri Bharatha Kamalalaya.<ref name=kumar/> In 2010 she received a [[National Heritage Fellowship]] from the [[National Endowment for the Arts]] for her contributions to the arts.<ref name="nhf">{{cite web|url=https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/kamala-lakshmi-narayanan|title=Kamala Lakshmi Narayanan: Bharatanatyam Indian dancer |author= |date=n.d. |website=www.arts.gov |publisher=National Endowment for the Arts |access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
She was married to cartoonist [[R. K. Laxman]], but the marriage ended in a divorce in 1960. Her second husband, T. V. Lakshminarayanan, died in 1983. She has one son from her second marriage, Jainand Narayan, an officer in the [[United States Army]].<ref name=kumari/>

== Awards ==
<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview: Kamala Lakshman, Bharatanatyam dancer & Guru|url=http://www.narthaki.com/info/intervw/intrvw4.html|publisher=Narthaki|access-date=26 July 2011|date=August 2000}}</ref>
*1967 - [[Kalaimamani]]
*1968 - [[Central Sangeet Natak Akademi]] Award
*1970 - [[Padma Bhushan]]<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2014 }}</ref>
*1975 - Branta Professorship from [[Colgate University]]
*1989 - E. Krishna Iyer Medal from the Sruti Foundation
*1993 - Sangeeta Ratnakara at the [[Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana]]
*2002 - Platinum Jubilee award from [[Madras Music Academy]]
*2010 - [[National Heritage Fellowship]]
*2012 - Soorya Lifetime Achievement Award in 4th St. Louis Indian Dance Festival

== Partial filmography ==
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
*1938 ''[[Valibar Sangham]]''
*1938 ''[[Jailor (1938 film)|Jailor]]''
*1939 ''Ramanama Mahimai''
*1941 ''[[Kanjan]]''
*1942 ''Chandni''
*1943 ''[[Kismet (1943 film)|Kismet]]''
*1943 ''[[Ram Rajya]]''
*1944 ''[[Jagathalaprathapan (1944 film)|Jagathalaprathapan]]''
*1945 ''[[Sri Valli (1945 film)|Sri Valli]]''
*1945 ''[[Meera (1945 film)|Meera]]''
*1945 ''[[En Magan (1945 film)|En Magan]]''
*1947 ''[[Ekambavanan]]''
*1947 ''Katagam''
*1947 ''[[Mahathma Udangar]]''
*1947 ''[[Nam Iruvar]]''
*1948 ''[[Vedhala Ulagam]]''
*1950 ''[[Vijayakumari (film)|Vijayakumari]]''
*1950 ''[[Digambara Samiyar]]''
*1951 ''[[Lavanya (1951 film)|Lavanya]]''
*1951 ''[[Devaki (1951 film)|Devaki]]''
*1951 ''[[Mohana Sundaram]]''
*1953 ''[[Manithan (1953 film)|Manithan]]''
*1953 ''[[Ulagam]]''
*1954 ''[[Vilayattu Bommai]]''
*1956 ''[[Devta (1956 film)|Devta]]''
*1956 ''[[Naane Raja (1956 film)|Naane Raja]]''
*1956 ''[[Chori Chori]]''
*1956 ''[[Kula Deivam (1956 film)|Kula Dheivam]]''
*1956 ''[[Charana Daasi]]''
*1957 ''[[Kathputli (1957 film)|Kathputli]]''
*1958 ''[[Bhookailas (1958 Telugu film)|Bhookailas]]''
*1958 ''[[Thirumanam]]''
*1958 ''[[Illarame Nallaram]]''
*1958 ''[[Yahudi]]''
*1959 ''[[Sivagangai Seemai]]''
*1959 ''Naach Ghar''
*1959 ''Naya Sansar''
*1960 ''[[Parthiban Kanavu (1960 film)|Parthiban Kanavu]]''
*1960 ''[[Paavai Vilakku]]''
*1960 ''[[Veerakkanal]]''
*1961 ''[[Bhakta Kuchela (1961 film)|Bhakta Kuchela]]''
*1961 ''Saugandh''
*1962 ''[[Konjum Salangai]]''
*1962 ''[[Sumaithaangi]]''
*1971 ''[[Jwala (1971 film)|Jwala]]''
*1973 ''[[Chenda (film)|Chenda]]''
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.sribharatakamalalaya.org/kamala.html Official Website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5Ib-aJ9WkyXMbn03XJw3PEyMj9Tatbx_ "FRAGRANT PETALS-Kamala's Natyam" - a 3 episode video series on Kamala by her student Ramaa Bharadvaj]

* {{IMDb name |nm0474926}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1970–79}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamala, Kumari}}
[[Category:Performers of Indian classical dance]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:National Heritage Fellowship winners]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:People from Mayiladuthurai district]]
[[Category:Indian female classical dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women artists]]
[[Category:Women artists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Dancers from Tamil Nadu]]

Kumari Kamala - Revision history

>Kanags at 09:01, 11 June 2021