Living Legend.. Kalaimamani Ranganayaki Jayaraman

My interview with Kalaimamani Ranganayaki Jayaraman Director Saraswathi Gana Nilayam Triplicane Chennai.

1. How would you associate the growth of SGN along with your growth...?

Started by my guru Smt.K.Lalitha in 1939, SGN has been my life and soul. My growth was marked by the growth of the instiitution. My teacher who also happens to be my aunt imbibed in me a sense of art, she made it a point that i not only excelled in dance but also made me learn Veena, Violin and Vocal music, she also trained me in Nattuvangam and inspired me to do Hari Katha. Therefore SGN and Lalitha sister have been the driving source for all my success and prosperity and i owe it all to them.

     2. As the First Student of SGN, you would have enjoyed a different phase , can u tell us about your learning experiences, arangetram and so on..

 Remembering those days make me feel rejuvenated, I started learning Bharathanatyam under my Athai[aunt] Smt. K.Lalitha at the age of 5 and staged my Arangetram when i was 11years old, Athai was an ardent fan of Rukmini Devi and was very specific that she must preside over my arangetram. Rukmini amma also readily accepted and graced the occasion, one of the best moments in my life was when Rukmini amma made me sit on her lap. We have come through a lot of hurdles and have also successfully inspired many dancers to take up dance as a serious profession.

     3.During the days of  solo kutcheris, how did Saraswathi Gana NIlayam, find its way of group choreographies and group arangetrams...

 “Dance should not be the privilege of only the affluent. It should reach all those who have a passion for it," I hit upon the idea of involving three or four dancers, to cut down the expenditure for the parents. Also the group concept beautifully lends itself to legends and mythological stories, more number of dancers, it becomes easy for the audience to relate to each character with absolute distinctions. I also hold a strong appeal to sabhas and dance schools that they should come forward to bring out the talent in economically backward people, who have the ability but do not have financial support. Lalitha Prabhavam, which was penned by my Guru was one of the master piece ballet which made heads turn towards our group productions, from then on we took up full fledged efforts to bring about dance ballets and group productions, which raised the standards of both the institute and the dancers, giving them special identities.

     4. SGN is known for its folk dances, can you tell us about that..

My guru is considered a pioneer in reviving and propogating our traditional art forms such as Kollattam, kummi, Pinnal Kollatam. During those days people would instantly associate our dance class with these art forms, Mr. K.Subrahmanyam , always made sure that we performed for all his programs. I specifically remember, Pinnal Kollattam was everybody's favourite, and the hall used be in thunderous applause when Pinnal kollatam is performed.

     5. A good teacher's treasure are her students can you tell us about your senior disciples who are into this field..

Yes , that is Absolutely true, my students are my gems, a teacher student relationship is always give and take... the students crave for the knowledge that the teacher holds and the teacher craves to find students with utmost  potential and expects their excellent performance. there is no Materialism involved, my students are always with me even today, though they are all well settled in their own ways, Binesh Mahadevan, my senior disciple who is the Director of Akshaya Arts at Koyambedu, is always a call away, he is more like a right hand to me, similarly Padmini Krishnamurthy who now resides at Muscat ,Padmalakshmee Suresh are all such wonderful students that I have got. Revathy, we call her Asha, she is a busy artist but when ever I need her, she reaches me. Most of my students are all well settled and it gives me immense happiness to see them all like this.