P. R. Thilagam | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1926 (age 98–99) Thiruvarur,Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupation | Dance drama performer |
| Known for | Kuravanji dance drama |
| Awards | Padma Shri Sangeet Natak Akademi Award |
P. R. Thilagam (born 1926), popularly known asThiruvarur Thilagam, is an Indian composer, vocalist and exponent ofKuravanji, a traditional form of dance drama popular in the Indian state ofTamil Nadu.[1][2] She hails fromKondi parampara (Kondi heritage) of the Isai Vellalar community, a sect of women dedicated to the worship atThyagaraja Temple, Tiruvarur.[3][4]
Thilagam was born in 1926 atThiruvarur, a town inTamil Nadu famous for theThyagaraja Temple, as one of the last among theKondi Devadasis, in a family of dancers.[5] Learning Kuravanji from her grandmother, Kamalambal, who was a notable performer of the dance drama,[6] she started public performances and has performed on many stages in India and abroad.[7] She is a recipient of the 1997Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.[8][9] The Government of India awarded her the fourth highest civilian honour of thePadma Shri, in 2007, for her contributions to Arts.[10] Her performance has been video-documented by theIndira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)[6] while her life story is the main feature of a journal,Madras Season: Its Genesis, published bySruti, a magazine dedicated for performing arts.[11]
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