Sudha rani raghupathy biography channel

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How does one condense one’s thoughts on one’s guru particularly when the subject is living legend Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy, who celebrates 75 years on the stage this year? For almost 40 of those years, I have watched, learned, and been inspired by Sudha Aunty’s passion, elegance, and consummate artistry.

My introduction to Bharatanatyam, and to Sudha Aunty, was at the age of five, through the Bharatanjali programme - a TV series curated and produced by her for Doordarshan. I sat unblinking, I am told, through every episode, and begged my mother to take me to her. When Aunty told my mother I was too young to begin classes at Shree Bharatalaya, I was heartbroken - but even at that age, was quite clear: I would rather wait a few years until Sudha Aunty took me in, than go to anyone else.

Such is the immediate and deep impression Sudha Aunty made on a five-year-old.

Growing up in Chennai, it was a constant source of inspiration - and aspiration - to watch Sudha Aunty in action - be it teaching, performing, speaking publicly, planning an event, working on a research project, or just sharing her knowledge with students. So much of what I - and every student at Shree Bharatalaya - have modeled ourselves on comes from observing our guru. Her work and achievements in India are widely known and speak volumes, but besides the accolades and laurels she has earned in India over the decades, she has served as an ambassador of Indian art and culture across the globe.

In today’s world of instant communication, and globalisation of cultural influences, it is difficult to adequately imagine and contextualise Sudha Aunty’s experience in , as the first Indian at Randolph-Macon Women’s College, Virginia, USA. Sponsored as an international student, she majored in World History of Dance, trained in the Martha Graham technique with Eleanor Struppa&n

First Indian student () at the Ramdolph Macons’ Women College, Virginia (USA) and sponsored as an international student Sudharani Raghupathy majored in World History of Dance, studio arts, and the Martha Graham technique in Modern Dance.

Acclaimed as a ‘living legend’ Sudharani Raghupathy has been in the field of Bharatanatyam for more than five and a half decades. She has the rare distinction of having performed before the visiting dignitaries to India since and having given a command performance for Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Smt. Indira Gandhi (). On an invitation from the UN SECRETARY General Kurt Waldheim () she performed on the Human Rights Day at United Nations, New York. Sangeet Natak Academy has recorded her ‘Navasandhi’ Nritta (). Her dance-dramas – ‘Ramayana’, ‘Krishna Vande Jagat Gurum’, ‘Shakthi Prabhavam’, ‘Vande Guham Umasutham’, ‘Ekameva Nadvayam’, and ‘Shankara Loka Shanka’ among many others have been acclaimed world over.

Her ‘Ramayana – Balakanda’ was documented as a video cassette by Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, New Delhi and was released by Shankaracharya of Kanchi Jayendra Saraswathi Swamiji (). As an outstanding artistic contribution to Bharatanatyam, Sudharani Raghupathy has produced and directed a TV serial (first TV serial on dance) in 21 episodes screened on Doordarshan

Performing artist, choreographer and senior guru in Bharatanatyam, Sudharani Raghupathy is also a member of the Society of National Council for Science Museums, Committee on National Policy on Culture, and Programme Advisory Committee for Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai.