Star Interviews
Chit Chat : Padmashri Devayani
By Sri
May 5, 2010 - 9:44:13 AM

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.

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.

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.

Sri: Your lip synchronization for the popular song paaDanaa telugu paaTa... that was shot on you was appreciable for a first timer!
Devayani: Being in Madras for some time, I learnt a bit of Tamil and I was also familiar with Sanskrit as it was essential for expertise in dance. Thus, Telugu wasn't tough when I started rehearsing the dialogues.

Sri: I read in your website that you are familiar with Indian poetry too!
Devayani: Yeah, I read [the works of] Kabir, Rabindranath Tagore, Surdas, Kalidas, and even Omar Khayyam, Jalal-ud-din Rumi along with Indian mythology and philosophy, because for Classical Indian Dance performances to be perfect, one needs to understand the cultural background.

Sri: You were also India's Cultural Ambassador in numerous countries, the whole of Europe, all the scandinavian countries, Estonia, Korea etc.   
Devayani: Yes, and as a Cultural Ambassador, I have represented India and Bharata Natyam internationally at the ‘World Culture Open 2004’ in Seoul, Korea at the Edinburgh International Festival in Portugal for the Millennium Celebrations, at the XXIV Algarve International Music Festival where I was given the top billing with the legendary star of opera Luciano Pavarotti.

Sri: Usually artistes are sensitive. Dealing with beaurocracy is probably the hardest part for any artiste...
Devayani: Surely, it is hard, but determination and dedication will keep things moving. It's sometimes frustrating that things don't move at the pace we expect but we keep trying to pace up, it usually helps! If we follow our dreams, we will achieve our goals.

Sri: I know you did a lot of stage performances in India and abroad. Can you share some of your memorable moments please?
Devayani: Recently the one in Lucknow was wonderful! I performed on the final day of the Lucknow Mahotsav. Sunidhi Chauhan was the singer and over 30,000 people were present in the compound which was equipped with huge LCD screens. Once the dance was over, there was a loud applause - like a sea of claps, and calls for an encore - all over! It's one of the best moments for any artiste. ...I also perfomed at the Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad for the Andhra Pradesh Formation Day, which also had at least about one lakh people, and that was among my best memories too! Shows in the UK and Europe add to the list ...and well, each program has it own memories definitely! My performance at the Queen Elisabeth Hall in London remains a moment in time which brings tears to my eyes. Another jewel presented to me was the offer to dance at the Eesti Concert Hall, Tallinn’s Opera House in Estonia: the imposing chandeliers and utter silence of the audience, the unbelievable response: everything was there to bring me happiness.

Acknowledgements : Thanks to Padmashri Devayani

Article by Sri Atluri
Edited by NaChaKi

To know more about Padmashri Devayani pls visit her site http://www.devayanidance.com/home.htm

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