Classical dance legend Kanak Rele passes away in Mumbai

One of the finest exponents of Mohiniyattam and Kathakali dance forms, Dr Kanak Rele, passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Dr Rele, a recipient of Padma Bhushan, was the founder-director of the Nalanda Dance Research Centre and the founder-principal of the Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya in Mumbai.

The 85-year-old is survived by her husband Yatindra Rele, son Rahul and daughter-in-law Uma, and two grandchildren.

Born in Gujarat, she had spent her childhood in Shantiniketan and Kolkata. She studied law from the Government Law College under the University of Mumbai and then did a diploma in international law from University of Manchester.

She also holds a PhD in dance from the University of Mumbai.

She learnt Kathakali from Guru "Panchali" Karunakara Panicker from the age of seven but her initiation into Mohiniattam came much later under Kalamandalam Rajalakshmi.

After conducting detailed research into the dance forms from ancient texts, Dr. Rele developed her own style of Mohiniyattam, which was known as Kanak Rele School.

In her long and illustrious dance career spanning nearly eight decades, Dr. Rele was honoured with several awards and prizes including Padma Shri (1989), Padma Bhushan (2013), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1994), Kalidas Samman (2006), M. S. Subbulakshmi Award.

Condoling the death, Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais said Dr Rele dedicated her entire life to the cause of promotion, propagation and research of Indian classical dance forms.

"Dr Rele made fundamental work in the field of dance through her Nalanda Dance Research Centre and the Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya. She trained hundreds of students and brought classical dance close to the people. In her demise we have lost a great Nritya Tapaswini,” he said.