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| Devayani receiving Padmasree from The President of India |
When I was browsing the Internet, I came across the website of Devayani gaaru: and was surprised to know that the President of India conferred 'Padma Shri' on her for her contribution to Bharatha Natyam and I thought of calling her right away. But, I wanted to see the film first and then call, got the VCD from India, and finally got to see the film. After watching the film, I called her to talk about the film and get some more details from her. She was extremely busy with her schedules and promised to talk the next day about the film and much more. From the telephonic conversation I had the next day, excerpts are presented as a supplement to the movie retrospect:
Sri: First, let me congratulate you on being conferred 'Padma Shri'. It is quite amazing to note that a person of French origin could win a 'Padma Sri' for her outstanding achievements and contribution to Bharata Natyam!
Devayani:
Thanks a lot! The award is not only for me but for the passion and dedication of an artiste, I'd say!
Sri: Still, it's a rare honor to be conferred a Padma Shri...
Devayani:
I feel the honor was to Bharata Natyam rather than to me as an individual. It proved that art knows no barriers. It proved that passion with talent will achieve anything! We need to work on what we love no matter what hardships we may (have to) face...
Sri: Tell me your background and how developed an interest towards the Indian classical dance.
Devayani:
I am from Paris. I was interested in arts from my childhood and learnt Greek, Latin, English and German when I was in school. It was at the Lycee Rodin and in the The Sorbonne University that I learned the foundations of Ballet, Western classical music and Bharata Natyam. When I was in school I watched a series of documentaries on India, titled Calcutta and Phantom India which were made by Louis Malle, and I got fascinated by Indian culture and Bharata Natyam. Soon I started studying Bharata Natyam in Paris, initially under Amala Devi, a soloist of Ram Gopal's troupe and later under Malavika. Later, I came to India on an Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme Fellowship and started my training with Kancheepuram Sree G. Ellappa Mudaliar, one of the great gurus of all times. After Ellappa gaaru passed away, I was trained for more than three years under 'Kalaimamani' Sree V.S. Muthuswamy Pillai. That was when the film America Ammaayi happened.
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| Devayani (photo by Rakesh Sreshsta) |
Sri: When you came to India the first time, didn't you find it difficult to adjust, with people possibly trying to take advantage of your ignorance of the cultural differences, etc.?
Devayani:
It's everywhere and not just here in India! Of course, we need to be careful and decide what's good for us and take the step. Like Vivekananda said, what you give will come back to you in another form. So, choose what you give to others, I say.
Sri: Going back to the topic, could you please elaborate some more on how the film offer came to you?
Devayani:
I did my arangetram (dance debut on stage) in Madras. Singeetam Srinivasa Rao gaaru was amongst the audience and a neighbor knew him personally too. Thus, the neighbor recommended my name to the director when the latter was looking for a foreign girl to do the role of a classical dancer.
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| Devayani in America Ammayi |
Sri: What do you remember about the film?
Devayani:
The film was also the first film for the other heroine Deepa. She was from Kerala and the rest of the cast and crew were from Andhra Pradesh. Thus, it was an interesting combination of several cultures, in my opinion. Ranganath and Sridhar were really good helpers on the set. Deepa was also a debutant like I was, and so she was also in the learning process at that time. I was only familiar with Bharata Natyam, but I had to also perform the Kuchipudi dance form in the film. Thus, I took training under Sree Vempati China Satyam gaaru, who was one of the choreographers for the film and a renowned Kuchipudi guru, which helped me a lot and working under him was a great experience. The film was shot in two schedules, one in the peak of summer and the other during the rainy season. The film was a big hit and I got offers to do films with Kamal Hasan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Ramu Kariat, Dev Anand etc. but my priority was only dance and I thus never did any other film again.
