Amala Shankar | |
|---|---|
 Shankar in 2011 | |
| Born | Amala Nandy (1919-06-27)27 June 1919 |
| Died | 24 July 2020(2020-07-24) (aged 101) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Dancer, actress |
| Years active | 1948 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Ananda Shankar,Mamata Shankar |
| Parent | Akhoy Kumar Nandy (father) |
Amala Shankar (néeNandy, 27 June 1919 – 24 July 2020)[1] was an Indian dancer.[2] She was the wife of dancer and choreographerUday Shankar and mother of musicianAnanda Shankar and dancerMamata Shankar (later she became an actress)[3] and sister-in-law of musician and composerRavi Shankar.[4][5] Amala Shankar acted in the filmKalpana written, co-produced and directed by husband Uday Shankar. She died on Friday, 24 July 2020, inWest Bengal'sKolkata,India aged 101.[6]
Amala Shankar was born Amala Nandy on 27 June 1919 in Batajor Village,Magura District,Bengal Presidency,British India (modern-dayBangladesh). Her father Akhoy Kumar Nandy wanted his children to be interested in nature and villages.[7] In 1931, when she was 11 years old she went to the International Colonial Exhibition in Paris. Here she met Uday Shankar and his family. Amala at that time was wearing a frock. Uday Shankar's mother Hemangini Devi gave her aSaree to wear. She joined Uday Shankar's dance troupe and performed across the world.[3]
In 1939 when she was staying inChennai with Uday Shankar's dance group, one day came to Amala at night and gave her marriage proposal.[8] Uday Shankar married Amala in 1942.[8] Their first sonAnanda Shankar was born in December 1942.[9] Their daughterMamata Shankar was born in January 1954.[10] Uday Shankar and Amala Shankar was a popular dance couple for a long time. But, later Uday Shankar was romantically involved with a young girl of his troupe and he producedChandalika without Amala.[3] Uday Shankar died in 1977. The last few years, the couple lived separately.[3] As of 2012[update] Amala Shankar was still active and has kept Shankar gharana alive with her daughter Mamata and daughter-in-lawTanushree Shankar.[3] She was the sister-in-law ofRavi Shankar, who was aSitarist.[11] Remaining active until her nineties, her last performance was the dance drama Sita Swayamvar at the age of 92, in which she played the role of King Janaka.[12]
Amala Shankar acted in the filmKalpana (1948). The film was written, co-produced and directed by Uday Shankar, who also appeared in the film. Amala played the character of Uma. Amala Shankar attended the2012 Cannes Film Festival where the film was screened. Amala Shankar said in an interview–"2012 Cannes Film Festival... I was the youngest film star at the Cannes Film Festival... I am revisiting Cannes after a span of 81 years..."[8]
| Year | Film | Director | Co-stars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Kalpana | Uday Shankar | Lakshmi Kanta,Uday Shankar |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
