Natya Kala Mandhir celebrates 40 years with “Pavithra Bharatham”
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In celebrating 40 years of remarkable contribution to the classical art, ‘Natya Kala Mandhir’, the renowned dance institution will present “Pavithra Bharatham” on Monday, November 14 at 5.30p.m at the New Kathiresan Hall, Bambalapitiya.
The event will be held under the distinguished patronage of “Deshamanya” Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy and Director of the Indian Cultural Centre Ms. Rajshri Behera as the Special Guest.
Established in 1976 by the well-known Bharatha Natya exponent Kalasuri Vasugy Jegatheeswaran, Natya Kala Mandhir, has ever since produced many dance programmes which have won the unstinted praise of the audience. They have performed at both national and international stages and have captured the audience. ‘Pavithra Bharatham’ the dance recital, would feature the very first student of Natya Kala Mandhir to the senior students as of date.
Deeply entrenched in the tradition of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Music, Smt. Vasugy Jegatheeswaran’s association with classical art form began at a young age. Her first guru at the age of three was her mother Smt. Vijayalakshmi Shanmugampillai, who was an excellent dancer trained in Bharatanatyam. Smt. Vasugy Jegatheeswaran owes her artistic and creative vision to her mother and to her father Mirudanga Vidwan ‘Layavaarithi’ Shri K Shanmugampillai.
After learning the basics of Bharatanatyam from her mother, Smt. Vasugy moved to India to expertise herself in the divine form of Bharatanatyam under the tutelage of Guru Padamashri Adayar K Lakshman. There she obtained the title ‘Bharatha Chodamani’ and the Diploma in Dancing and Nattuvangam. Subsequently Smt Vasugy with the vision to impart her knowledge in 1976 inaugurated ‘Natya Kala Mandhir’ in Colombo. Over the past four decades the institution had helped to promote Bharatanatyam in Sri Lanka by producing several acclaimed dancers. In recognition of her talent, she was invited to teach at Sarasavipaya the school of fine arts, Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya and at the Indian Cultural Centre in Colombo. She has also served as a member in the Dance Drama panel of the Sri Lankan Art Council and served as a judges in the popular dance series ‘Classical Dance Stars’ telecast in the ‘Shakthi TV’. She was honored with the “Life Time Achievement Award” by the same TV channel. In 1990, Smt. Vasugy was awarded the most prestigious award, “Kalasuri” by the Government of Sri Lanka and other accolades like “Bharatha Bhooshana Thilakam” and “Narthana Nayaki” and “Nadana Kalai Arasi” from the great dance exponent Dr. Padma Subramaniyam in Chennai in 2006. In the In 1997 she was honoured with “Bunka Award” by the Japan Sri Lanka Friendship Cultural Fund.
Kalasuri Vasugy Jegatheeswaran