Roshan Kumari

🪔 About

Roshan Kumari Fakir Mohammad is a highly acclaimed Indian classical dancer, actor, and choreographer, widely regarded as one of the foremost exponents of the Kathak dance form. Born on Christmas Eve (year uncertain, but around 1937) in Ambala, Haryana, she inherited a rich artistic lineage from her parents: Choudhury Fakir Mohammed, a noted Tabla player, and Zohrabai Ambalewali, a renowned classical and playback singer. Kumari's Kathak training began at the age of five under K.S. Moray in Mumbai. She further honed her skills under the tutelage of Pandit Sunder Prasad of the Jaipur gharana at the Maharaj Bindaddin School of Kathak, and also received training from Ghulam Hussain Khan and Hanuman Prasad. Demonstrating her versatility, she also undertook a six-month study of Bharatanatyam under Govindraj Pillai and Mahalingam Pillai in Mumbai. Her career took off with her first solo concert at the age of 13 in Kolkata, a performance that garnered significant attention and established her name in the dance world. Roshan Kumari's captivating performances led her to grace prestigious stages, including the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and she performed for dignitaries such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Nikita Khrushchev, and the King of Nepal. She is particularly remembered for her iconic nine-minute Kathak performance in Satyajit Ray's cinematic masterpiece, "Jalsaghar" (1958). Beyond performing, she also contributed as an actor in films like "Parineeta" (1953) and "Mirza Ghalib" (1954), and as a choreographer for movies such as "Chaitali" (1975), "Lekin" (1990), and "Sardari Begum" (1996). In 1971, Roshan Kumari founded Nritya Kala Kendra in Bandra, Mumbai, an academy dedicated to promoting Kathak and nurturing new talent. Her teaching legacy is significant, with numerous students carrying forward her distinctive style, characterized by its "explosive nritta" and "rhythmic wizardry" of the Jaipur gharana. Following the passing of her father in 1994, Kumari ceased performing, dedicating herself to teaching. Awards & Honours: Nritya Shiromani (1963), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1976), Nritya Vilas (1977), Padma Shri (1984), Vishwa Unnyyan Samsad Award (1989), Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar (1990), Man Patra (1993), Emeritus Fellowship (1995), All India Bhuwalka Award (2005), Hanumant Award (2008).