Women
Remembering Mrinalini Sarabhai: The Iconic Dancer On Her Birthday
Honouring the prodigious dancer on her 100th birth anniversary who choreographed more than 300 dance dramas and has left us with nothing less than her magnificent legacy of art behind
Text Credits: Nivedita V
“Every human being is born with a vision. Some recognize it, some become aware of it and some know it not at all. From the moment of my knowledge of existence, I claimed the dance as my own life. It shaped the entire consciousness of my being and never changed, for it was the only direction of my heart, mind and innermost soul. It has, till now, been my state of enlightenment, my closest experience of divinity.” – Mrinalini Sarabhai
The danseuse was born to S Swaminathan and A.V. Ammukutty on 11th May 1918 in Kerala and is known for her major contributions in the field of art. She was an Indian classical dancer who began her journey by embarking into the field of choreography of dance dramas, writing novels, poetry and stories for children.
Spending her early years in Switzerland, she received her first lessons from Dalcroze school, she was introduced to Dalcroze Eurhythmics, a system of introducing musical concepts through movement.
She was known as ‘Amma’ by the ones who adored her. Mrinalini Sarabhai found her passion for arts while she was being educated by Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan. She then took off to the United States of America and enrolled into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. On her return to India, she began her training under Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai in Bharatnatyam and under the legendary master Thakazhi Kunchu Kurp in Kathakali. She was also well versed in Mohiniyattom.
Source: The Quint, The Quint, The Quint
In 1942 she married the Indian physicist Vikram Sarabhai. She has a son named Kartikeya and a daughter named Mallika who also attained fame in the field of dance and theatre. “My mother just left for her eternal demise” Mallika had said following Mrinalini’s demise and she paid homage to her mother by dancing to a song of Lord Krishna, as he was her mother’s favourite deity.
Image Source: Themoteaver
She not only immersed herself in contributing to the field of dance but also in the field of literature. She had published her autobiography, The Voice of the Heart: An Autobiography, which comprised of her journey. Other novels of hers include The Mahabharata, The Stories Of India etc. For her remarkable contributions to the field of art, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and Padma Sri in 1965. The prodigy was also the first Indian to receive the medal and Diploma of the French association Archives Internationales de la Danse. She was nominated to the Executive Committee of the International Dance Council, Paris in 1990 and awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, New Delhi in 1994. She was presented with a gold medal by the Mexican Government for her choreography for the Ballet Folklorico of Mexico. In 2013 she was presented with the Nishagandhi Puraskaram, an annual award from the Government of Kerala and was the very first recipient of this prestigious award. But Mrinalini being the radical thinker she was, suggested pragmatic ways to help in the upkeep and the revival of the art forms by providing them with cash prizes instead of awards and trophies.
Source: The Quint
January 21, 2016, marks the day when this revolutionary artist danced her way into the light and is mourned and remembered by many up until today also.
Women
Kareena Kapoor film festival : PVR celebrates 25 years of Kareena
Kareena Kapoor, one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, has captivated audiences for over two decades. With her latest release, The Buckingham Murders, now in theatres, the actress has reached a significant milestone, celebrating 25 years in the Hindi film industry. To honor her illustrious career, PVR Cinemas is organizing a special multi-city film festival dedicated to Kareena—an unprecedented tribute for a female actor in India. Previously, only legends like Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan have received similar honors.
The festival will showcase some of Kareena’s most iconic performances on the big screen, featuring beloved characters such as Poo from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Geet from Jab We Met, and her title role in Chameli. A trailer for the festival, highlighting these memorable roles, has already been released, with more details to follow soon.
Kareena expressed her gratitude on Instagram, sharing her excitement for the tribute. In her heartfelt post, she wrote, “The blood in my veins, the magic on screen… my job I love… the fire within… here’s to the next 25 ❤️. Thank you to @pvrcinemas_official & @inoxmovies for curating this beautiful festival… so humbled.”
Having made her debut with JP Dutta’s Refugee in 2000, Kareena has starred in over 50 films, including Chameli, Omkara, Heroine, 3 Idiots, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Udta Punjab, and Laal Singh Chaddha. Fans can look forward to seeing her next in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again, alongside Ajay Devgn.
Women
Inspiring Indian Women Who Defied Age Norms
Age is often perceived as a limitation, a barrier that holds individuals back from pursuing their dreams and achieving greatness. However, there are exceptional women who have shattered this misconception, proving that age is merely a number. In India, these remarkable women have demonstrated resilience, passion, and determination, inspiring countless others to defy societal expectations and pursue their aspirations regardless of their age.
SEEMA ANAND
Sex health instructor and storyteller Seema Anand is well-known for her gorgeous appearance and silver hair. But Seema’s Instagram account really shines because of the way she addresses sex and dispels ageist myths, providing insightful advice for senior citizens looking to have better sex. She dispels misconceptions about contraception and encourages body awareness. Both young and old who want to learn more about sexual pleasure should check out Anand’s account.
MANJRI VARDE
Manjri Varde is a skilled artist who, along with her actress daughter-in-law Sameera Reddy, is known online as “sassy saasu.” Together, they make humorous videos that question conventional wisdom regarding the dynamics of in-law relationships. She is a designer and artist who runs her own business, Samanjri, which sells poetry, calligraphy, and wearable art. Varde has a unique sense of style and is frequently spotted with brightly coloured sarees and scarves that she creates herself. Even though she is well-known on Instagram, where she frequently shares videos highlighting her love of art, entertaining, and cooking with her daughter-in-law.
SHEELA BAJAJ
Sheela Bajaj, a Delhi native, turned her love of crocheting into a business during the lockdown by using Instagram to fuel her passion. She has been making sweaters for her family using her crocheting abilities for years. Yukti Bajaj, her granddaughter, proposed that they launch a company to highlight her amazing knitting masterpieces.The two launched their crochet business in November 2020, and it has been inundated with customers. They claim that the current gap between supply and demand for their products is ten times larger.
RAJINI CHANDY
Rajini Chandy, a 72-year-old homemaker actor came to light in 2021 thanks to a widely shared photo shoot. She looked better than many in tattered dresses and denim, even at her advanced age. She did, however, get harsh criticism for her wardrobe selections. At the age of 65, Rajini Chandy, who has 20,000+ Instagram followers, started her acting career in Malayalam films. Interestingly, she took part in a Big Boss Malayalam season as well.
SHANTHI RAMACHANDRAN
This former banker simply wanted to unwind and enjoy her life after retiring in 2015. She created a social media platform where she provides her cooking advice and techniques, supported by her daughter. She now goes as “Insta Aunty” and has amassed a sizable fan base since then. Shanthi Ramachandran has an astounding 53.3k followers, and her delicious posts will definitely make you hungry.
These remarkable women from India have defied age norms and shattered stereotypes, proving that with passion, determination, and resilience, anything is possible. Their stories serve as a powerful reminder that age should never be a barrier to pursuing dreams and achieving greatness. As we celebrate their accomplishments, let us draw inspiration from their journeys and strive to embrace our own potential, regardless of our age.
Fashion
Zeenath Aman’s new look that makes internet go crazy
Zeenat Aman is very vocal with her Instagram followers. In her most recent post, the veteran actor, whose Instagram presence has managed to catch everyone’s attention, gave her take on fashion. The celebrity wrote in great depth about enjoying fashion and not limiting its associations to words like “sexy” and “glamour.” On her profile, one can see photos from her more recent adventures mixed in with nostalgic photos, all of which are accompanied by moving writing from the icon herself.
Aman has been called a retro fashion icon, but her Instagram shows that she hasn’t lost any of her style chops over the years. Aman’s style stands out amid a sea of fashion posts that are overflowing with trends but lacking in personality. The actor’s fashion choices and her tone of voice, which is hard to come by on social media, are a welcome contrast.
Taking to her Instagram to talk about her understanding of the concept of fashion, Zeenat shared a couple of pictures standing in an oversized white shirt and black pants from the new shoot. The actor said she is tired of hearing the word ‘bombshell’ and ‘diva’ attached to fashion all the time, and wants to pull the ‘focus on fun.’ Positive comments on the actor’s post were left by many, who praised her for defying stereotypes and serving as an inspiration.
Aman posed for the camera wearing a Payal Khandwala costume to celebrate her 50th Instagram post. Aman, who is never afraid to make a statement, defied the ageist fashion convention that “women of a certain age” should only wear neutral colour schemes. Aman wore a handwoven silk jacket in a lush green tone over her immaculate white shirt, giving the look the ideal pop of colour. The actor wore classic accessories including tiny golden earrings, black eyeglasses, and a brush of brick-red lipstick.
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