Musical event held to pay tributes to M S Subbulakshmi

Dancer Suchitra Mitra with her troupe perform at Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh on Thursday. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

NRITYA NAMAN, a tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr M S Subbulakshmi, was presented by Pedestal of the Art of Dance and Music (PADAM) on Thursday. At a time when it was considered a taboo for women to step out of the four walls of their homes, Subbulakshmi was the first woman who performed with men on the mridangam and violin. Not only that, she played the male character of Narada in the movie ‘Savitri’ and was the first Indian to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award and the first Indian to sing at the UN conference hall.

The musical extravaganza, supported by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Chandigarh administration, witnessed an enthralling performance by Bharatanatyam dancer Suchitra Mitra. A star pupil of Kalakshetra, Chennai, Mitra received training from Rukmini Devi Arundale. As part of Nritya Naman, Suchitra used the original soundtrack of Subbulakshmi for the background music.

“This is our ode to her on the commemoration of her birth centenary. It is not possible to describe the divine voice and singing of M S Subbulakshmi in words and in an hour. Yet, this is our humble and small tribute to the divine voice of MS Subbulakshmi,” said Mitra.