For dancers Suman Velagapudi, Monika Ladha, Lakshmi Ramani in their forties age is just a number
For dancers Suman Velagapudi, Monika Ladha, Lakshmi Ramani in their forties age is just a number
For three mothers in their 40s
Suman Velagapudi, Monika Ladha, Lakshmi Ramani
Bharatanatyam Arangetram, age is just a number.
In an accomplishment, which inspired the audience on a laidback Sunday at CMRIT auditorium in Bengaluru’s Brookefields area, the three women had their Bharatanatyam Arangetram.
Their performances invited lavish praise, loud claps and even tears from the packed hall.
These mothers of adult children are all students of the Koramangala-based Nrutya School of Art. They attribute this remarkable feat to the guidance and constant motivation of their Guru at the School, Gayathri Chandrashekhar.
A catchy aspect of the programme was the children introducing their mothers when they took to the stage. This was a reversal of roles – kids egging on and cheering their mothers do well on the D-day!
When Lakshmi Ramani (44), mother of two daughters and a native of Tamil Nadu, wielded the mike and tearfully wished her deceased father-in-law, instrumental in making her dream come true, could have witnessed it, there was not a dry eye around.
Suman Velagapudi, the oldest of the dancers at 47, left behind her career as Vice-President of Customer Service at `Cloud’ to pursue her passion. According to her it is such an overwhelming day for her and yet to sink in. She had studied Kuchipudi for two years when at school and always had a passion for dance. She began learning it part-time while working when she was 42 but really wanted to devote myself fully to its pursuit. It was a very big decision to leave a successful corporate career.” She is grateful to her in-laws, her husband Sreekanth Velagapudi and son Revanth, a third year B.Tech student for backing her totally.
It wasn’t easy initially as mastering this dance form requires discipline for years. “And also giving up ego at this age when your teacher chides you for mistakes! She has gained knowledge on many other things through these classes,” Suman said.
The trio performed jointly as well as gave solo performances on stage. They began the performance with Pushpanjali and followed it up with Alaripu, Jatiswaram and Varnam. Later, each of did a solo item and then concluded with Thillana and Mangalam. Her solo was performed to Alarulu Kuriyaga, an Annamacharya Keertana,” she added.
For 46-year-old Monika Ladha, a Delhiite who was raised in Rajasthan, has made Bengaluru her home now. She works as a Financial Adviser at ‘1 to 1’ along with learning dance. This chartered accountant who has a young daughter, raised eyebrows when she chose to study a South Indian classical dance form as Kathak is generally chosen by those in the North.
‘She was always good in dance but it was the Bollywood kind. When she wanted to pursue dance much deeper, her husband Vivek Ladha guided her to learn something really solid like Bharatanatyam. Moreover, it involves a lot of Abhinaya and that really attracted her too.
The audience sat mesmerised. For Gayathri Devi, she felt completely inspired watching the ladies perform. “If one has the discipline and determination, anything is possible is what they have demonstrated. These achievers have proved age is just a number.
News Edit K.V.Raman
