There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will touch your heart…… We have lost some of the great masters who have always worked for the benefit of art, our obeisance to them.
Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Dancer
Legendary Odissi dancer and Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra passed away in Bhubaneswar, on Wednesday, April 7, 2004. He was 78. He was instrumental in projecting Odissi dance on the world stage in a big way and took the classical art form to an ethereal level.
Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra was born into a family of artists on January 8, 1926, at Raghurajpur, in the coastal district of Puri. He started his dancing career under the guidance of Guru Mohan Goswami. He taught Odissi in many famous dance institutions, across the country, including the Kala Vikas Kendra in Cuttack where he served as a dance teacher for 15 long years and the National Centre of Performing Arts in Mumbai.
An undisputed master and architect of the contemporary Odissi repertoire, Guru Mohapatra was awarded the highest national honors from the Government of India, including the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1966, the Padmashree in 1972, the Padmabhushan in 1989, and Padma Vibhushan in 2000. He is recipient of Kalidas Samman and was honored by the Government of France in 1995.
Spread across the globe, his disciples perform his innumerable dance compositions that extend the technique and repertoire of the Odissi style.
Memories of Guru Kelucharan Mohanpatra as the pillar of the Odissi dance form will be in the minds of several people. His demise is a great loss to the art community.
Sri T. V. Dwarakanath Art promoter
The founder President of Prabhath Kalavidaru (the well-known theatre group), T V Dwarakanath, died of cardiac arrest on Saturday, May 1, 2004. He was 78.
Affectionately called as Dwaraki Uncle, he was the last survivor of the four brothers – the other three being Dr T. V. Karigir, Vidwan T.V. Gopinath Das, and Vidwan T. V. Jayasimha Das – who were instrumental in structuring Prabhath Kalavidaru.
Prabhath Kalavidaru which was formed in 1946 is a platform for the promotion of theatre, music and dance.
A different dimension was given to dance-dramas through this institute. Punya Koti, Kindara Jogi, Dharma Bhumi, Karnataka Vaibhava, Cinderella, and Krishna Vyjayanthi are some of the ballets of Prabhath Kalavidaru. Also known for stage equipments, lighting, costume, etc., Prabhath is one of the premiere institutes of Karnataka.
Dwarakanath was known for his helpful nature. He worked extensively for the development of art and culture till his last breath. Dwarakanath was a member of various NGs, including Rotary Club and Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha. He was also a former President of Bangalore unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishath, Bharatiya Natya Sangh.
In recognition of his immense contribution to the development of art and culture, he was conferred with Karnataka Nataka Academy Award.
Shri R S MANI Costume maker and designer
Well-known costume designer and costume maker, R. S. Mani passed away on 9th April 2004 in Bangalore. He was 76.
R S Mani, the proprietor of Mani tailors, was not just another tailor. A specialist in designing and stitching costumes for Classical Indian Dance, Mani was a costume designer for Kannada cinema for thirty years and then made an entry in the classical dance world.
He was in this field for the last 25 years. He was awarded Karnataka Kalashree in 2001 for costume designing and stitching. He was always a perfectionist in his job. he is survived by two sons and three daughters.
His two sons Manjunath and Armugam continue to work this field.
R. S. Mani Tailors Near Eshwara temple, Chikka Kunappa building, Dodda Kalasandra, Kanakapura Main Road, Bangalore – 560062