Sitara Devi

🪔 About

Sitara Devi, born Dhanlakshmi on November 8, 1920, in Kolkata (then Calcutta), was an iconic Indian dancer of the classical Kathak style, a singer, and an actress. Her father, Pandit Sukhdev Maharaj, a Sanskrit scholar and Kathak dancer, was a pioneer of the Benaras Gharana, and her mother, Matsya Kumari, hailed from a family of performers connected to the Nepalese royal family. Sitara Devi received her initial training from her father and her elder sister, Tara. She later honed her Kathak skills under the tutelage of renowned gurus Achchan Maharaj, Lachhu Maharaj, and Shambhu Maharaj of the Lucknow Gharana. Her prodigious talent was evident from a young age. At just sixteen, after witnessing her captivating performance, Rabindranath Tagore bestowed upon her the title "Nritya Samragni" (Empress of Dance). Sitara Devi's career spanned decades, during which she performed at prestigious venues globally, including the Royal Albert Hall in London (1967) and Carnegie Hall in New York (1976). She also appeared in several Hindi films, such as *Usha Haran* (1940), *Nagina* (1951), and *Mother India* (1957), before dedicating herself entirely to classical Kathak. Known for her electrifying energy and a unique style that blended elements of both the Benaras and Lucknow Gharanas, Sitara Devi was a strong proponent of Kathak's purity. She envisioned establishing a Kathak training academy in Mumbai but faced challenges in securing land for this endeavor. Sitara Devi passed away on November 25, 2014, in Mumbai. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1969), Padma Shri (1973), Kalidas Samman (1995), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2008), Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna (2009), Legends of India Lifetime Achievement Award (2011), Nritya Nipuna.