SMT. UMA DEVI DUTT -My First Guru

 I visited Uma Devi ji on Guru Poornima in 2023 at the seniors home for assisted living and again on October 16, when my daughter Ruupa sang a few bhajans for her and other residents. It was heartening to see her enthusiasm and clear memory and speech at the age of 92. This year's Vijayadasami when we all remember our Gurus and pay respects and express gratitude to them, I was with Uma Devi Dutt ji and spent a couple of hours with her.

(Photo by V.Chandramouli taken in 1966 as a pre-arangetram photo session.)

I never lost touch with my first Guru till today. She too was kept updated with my activities. She attended my first student’s arangetram, the Bhagavata mela festival in Mumbai, and other performances which Adyar Lakshman Sir conducted.

This time she was in a nostalgic mood and told me about her parents and sister, Rema Devi. Her father began his career as a teacher but later became an officer in the General Insurance Company. He named them Rema and Uma and planned that one would become a doctor and the other a dancer. So, she was packed off to Kalakshetra where she continued her training under Rukmini Devi and Sarada Hoffman. Her idol was Chinna Sarada Teacher (Sarada Hoffman) and she never tired of speaking about her perfection, dedication, and teaching technique. Smt. Uma Dutt (nee Menon) hails from Kerala is a contemporary of Adyar Lakshman, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Prof. C.V. Chandrashekhar and Sanjukta Panigrahi. She has performed in Kalakshetra dance-dramas. She mentioned how Athai would admire her long thick tresses.

My family is closely connected with Kalakshetra and my cousin Kamala Rani was the first lady Nattuvangam and Vocalist for Kalakshetra. When she gave birth to her first born, she was in our home and I was just a week old. So, we had many visitors from Adyar.

I was fascinated with the beauty of the campus and the ideals it projected. There were no teachers of that Bani in Mumbai.

Even as a little girl I was obsessed with dance. Our house in Chennai was forever resounding with sounds of music and Veena. My mother Padma Swaminathan, sisters Kantimati and Banumathi were all learning music. Many well-known musicians visited us. Some of my cousins were dancers so there was a lot of dance going on among the girls.

My mother took me to see Martha Graham, Gopi Krishna, Birju Maharaj, Bala in Madras when I was six years old. I am so fortunate to have seen all the greatest dancers of our country from that time. This gave me a sound foundation to my artistic education. Our family is well-connected to Rukmini Devi and Kalakshetra. I was eager to join, but my father was not so sure.

In 1955 we moved to Bombay. The search for a dance teacher began. We were well connected to the Rajarajeswari gurus as both my sisters’ husbands were college friends of Shri Kalyanasundaram. So I was taken there and my tai ya tai started with the great Guru Kuppiah Pillai himself. I could not continue there as we shifted to Kanpur from 1958 to 1961. I had a spiritual soul connection to Guru Mahalingam Pillai whom I revere and is in my prayers even now.

 

In 1961, we were fortunate to find my first Guru Smt. Uma Devi.

A small advertisement for Bharata Natyam classes in Kalakshetra style caught my eye and we went to the address given.

She is a striking personality- tall, statuesque, and strong aquiline features.  Most stunning was her luxurious knee-length hair which she sometimes wore as a braid. Her sense of dress was impeccable. Her straight-back posture and broad shoulders were very impressive.

She was so affectionate and kind that I immediately wanted to join.

She was from the early batch of Kalakshetra students, so I was very happy to learn that Bani.  For five years she taught me the entire set of adavus and a full Margam. She demanded the perfection and stamina that Kalakshetra bani demands. Although strict, she was encouraging and ensured that I never lost my confidence. I was transiting through the awkward teenage years and she understood my problems. During rest time, she would tell me stories about Rukmini Devi Athai, the classes and how beautiful the Adyar campus was.  She was a complete Guru in the sense that she advised me, a 12-year-old, on philosophy, how to develop a sense of appreciation and value virtues like honesty, sincerity, and hard work.

One piece of advice she gave me which I passed on to my students was-“Imagine that all the devatas are seated in front of you when you dance. Will you not give your best performance? Your dance is your worship and puja.”

 

Bombay (now Mumbai) is known for its heavy showers during monsoon. And the classes were at Marine Drive where the low walls near the sea would splash four feet high waves. But Uma ji never missed a class. She would come by train from Khar, and walk down a few minutes from the station. I always attended every class and most of the time I was the only student. Mr. Dutt, an advocate, would often come to take her home as he worked in Fort. Sometimes Dagar Brothers would be in the car.

Adyar Lakshman Sir was taking Vyjayantimala’s classes close by, so he would visit often.

She taught me the most difficult and lengthy Varnam in Dhanyasi (E Maguva) which had two thirmanams each after the Pallvai and Anupallavi. Tisra Alarippu, Kalyani Jatiswaram, Kshetrayya Padam in Anandabhairavi (Manchi Joochu), Kambodhi Padam (Padari Varugudu) and Thillana (Parasu). At that time Sabdams were not popular in Kalakshetra, so I never learnt one. Nana Kasar, dancer and Guru trained in Pandanallur style did the Nattuvangam for me. My Arangetram was held in 1966.

I must mention an incident which proved the Uma ji’s training was perfectly complying with Kalakshetra standards. At a cousin’s wedding, we met Kamala Rani, my cousin, who was the leading Nattuvannar and singer at Kalakshetra and her daughter.. Karaikudi Krishnamurthy, the legendary mridangam artiste was also present. She decided that both of us will perform the Dhanyasi Varnam together. We agreed, no rehearsal no hurried consultation. The duet was so perfect as though we had studied and practiced together. Again, I performed in Varanasi, two performances in one evening. Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar was at the University. Again, no rehearsals, he knew all the items and I danced exactly as he sang. This is evidence of Uma Devi’s teaching skills and I offer my namaskarams to her in my mind all the time.

(Uma Devi at dance event. P.C. Jayashree Nair)

( Uma Devi's glorious tresses-PC Jayashree Nair)

(Uma Devi's performance at Tejpal Auditorium (Mumbai)in 1966-PC Jayashree Nair)

Uma Devi persuaded my parents to send me to Kalakshetra. I joined Kalakshetra from 1966 to 1970.

She held important posts during her career. HOD (Dance) at Baroda’s M.S. University, invited by Mrinalini Sarabhai to teach at Darpana, and then by Vyjayantimala Bali’s for her class. She continued to teach many students at her residence at Khar for many years.

 

I am grateful that my career in the arts began with Uma Devi ji. She laid the perfect foundation for me. I admire her for her spiritual attitude and as she mentioned, she was always spiritual in life and never found it necessary to follow rites and customs.

 

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar- A Divine Connect

 

 

 

                         Greatest Devotee of  Guruvayoor Shri Krishna 

 

Seen with Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar and his wife Alamelu -March 1973

 

Born in a family which had hoary connections with music and musicians, I had heard Bhagavathar’s concerts even when I was very young. My grandfather FG Natesa Iyer had close connections with all musicians, and Bhagavathar was one of them. His voice, like a melodious bronze bell, rang loud and true. His music went straight to the listener’s heart and mind and needed rapt attention as it traversed an amazing range. He had a huge fan following and students of all ages, caste, and creed regardless of gender. He gave music generously. His home in Chembai village or at Santhome in Chennai was always full. I met him in Chennai for the first time in 1970, when my fiancé took me to visit him. My in-laws had a close connection with him and were considered family. My fiancé was a special favourite of Bhagavathar. He sat in the thinnai, the patio of his bungalow and as our eyes met, there was a spark. He was profusely affectionate. I was overwhelmed in his presence, and I could feel his divinity touch me. A steadfast devotee of Guruvayoor Sri Krishna, you may have read stories about his mission to complete one thousand Udayasthamana puja in his lifetime. He completely approved of me! My fiancé and his family were not keen to support my passion and training in Bharata Natyam, but Bhagavathar openly defied them and reprimanded them.

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar synonymous with Shri Krishna Guruvayur Temple

He was in Mumbai once for a concert with his prime disciple Shri. Yesudas who was learning classical Carnatic music although he was a hugely popular star playback singer.

Our home was blessed with his presence for three days. Our humble two room flat was crowded with visitors, and he held court like a king, speaking to everyone, acknowledging their gifts, blessed those who prostrated before him and regaled them with his sparkling sense of humour. I was thrilled to cook for him, and he praised me for my newly learnt skill. His favourite dish was Keerai Molakkuttal (dal with spinach).  Shri Yesudas also walked in, humbly bowed to his master and stood in a corner. Despite persuasion he refused to sit in Bhagavatar’s presence. Then they both went to the other room and shut the door as they rehearsed together for almost an hour.

Early in 1973 we went on a road tour to the south in a Premier Padmini Fiat. Most people we met were celebrities for others, but family for us. In Chennai it was T.N. Krishnan, his father Narayana Iyer and family and MD Ramanathan.

We then reached Palghat where Mani Iyer and many other family relatives met me for the first time. We finally reached Chembai village and were guests of Bhagavathar for two weeks. He chased us out after breakfast to see the temples and other relatives but waited to have lunch with us. He and his sweet wife Alamelu would not have their meal without us.

The home and the garden were always full of students, organisers and fans. He had four concerts during the time and one prestigious award ceremony at Ottapalam. Wherever we went he was greeted like a divine being, streets were lined with fans, all palms joined and raised above their head. He could have had Plymouths at his disposal, but he preferred to sit in the front seat of our little Fiat. In other cars behind us were Jayan and Vijayan, Parameswaran Namboodiri and other relatives.

A remarkable concert was at Poomulli Illam from where his eminent student Raman Namboodri hailed. Here he was to perform with Shri Yesudas. We had just reached after an uphill drive. Within minutes, another car came up, this one was being pushed by none other than Shri Yesudas himself. He had folded his lungi and was panting as they reached. So unassuming and humble, I could not believe he was such a great internationally recognised star.

Our stay came to an end and as we took leave, Bhagavatar looked at me and said, “I have not given anything to you. Tell me what you want.”

I had noticed a small tanpura collecting dust in their attic. I had already set my heart on it. I pointed to the attic and the tanpura. Taken aback, he said, “That was used when I and my brother sang together. Take it.” So that is how I had the precious tanpura in our house all these years, proudly displayed in my living room, worshipped at Vijayadasami and used regularly.

After all these years, I had planned to return this precious heirloom to the family and had the opportunity to do so in January 2023.

Handing over the heirloom Tanpura to Shri Prakash Subramanian-8/01/2023

 

He could not attend our wedding due to prior commitments but in March 1973 came for the Shastiabdapoorthi of my father-in-law. We had arranged Bhagavathar’s concert with Palghat Mani (mridangam) and T. N. Krishnan (violin). It was an attempt from our family to unite Mani Iyer and Bhagavathar who had fallen out and did not speak to other for many years. He gifted  a gold pavitram ring to my father-in-law which was passed to Ranjan, my son. I presented this too to Prakash Subramanian, grandson of the family.