“The hours ticked past, unnoticed. My father was deep in conversation with vidwan Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu. Gradually, Dwaram the person, emerged.
Absolutely relaxed to the point where he casually lit his cheroot. And that is how the photo came about….Observe the use of bright sunlight in direct contrast to Dwaram’s world of visual darkness,” points out Nagesh Rao, son of the late Raghavendra Rao, ace photojournalist, whose brilliant black and white portraits of eminent South Indian classical musicians and dancers are showcased in the exhibition ‘Laya,’ at the Tag Digital Archives, The Music Academy.
Born in 1932, Raghavendra Rao’s formative years were spent in Mandya, Karnataka. A rebellious streak led him to detrain at Nagpur on a whim, to study journalism at the city’s University.
In an illustrious career spanning four decades, Rao related stories through photographs in The Indian Express and later, India Today and The Hindu Business Line .
Subsequently, the artist in him sought out classical performers to discover the persons behind the personae, enabling him to capture their moods, moments and art through his lens.
“My father passed away in 2014, leaving behind a body of remarkable work that represented what he stood for – passion, courage and commitment. To us, he was a photographer, artist and mentor who urged us to give our best. On the first anniversary of his demise, we felt that an exhibition of his works would be the most fitting tribute to his memory and his work,” says Nagesh.
Shot entirely in natural light, at the artists’ homes, the frames include candid shots, maestros in communication with their muse, or refreshingly, just being.
“He would draw out his camera only after putting them at ease, often becoming a friend in the process. D.K. Pattammal for instance, remained a family friend, to whom we looked up for wisdom and valuable advice.”
The roster includes doyens whose awe-inspiring aura would intimidate the common man. But Rao’s portraits make them appear eminently approachable, even childlike, in their expressions of joy and unaffected laughter, exemplified by M.D. Ramanathan’s portrait.
Dressed in a simple, slightly crumpled ‘at-home’ cotton sari, a smile of genuine pleasure lighting up her face, the legendary Balasaraswathi looks uncannily like your favourite aunt or the mami next door.
S. Balachander’s gaze signals his immersion in cerebration, fingers poised above the veena frets.
A study in elegance, the portrait of Malavika Sarukkai links the aesthete in the photographer to that of his subject. As remarkable for mood as for composition, the study views the celebrated dancer in profile, seated with a raised knee, the stark silhouette of an antique kuthuvilakku standing sentinel on the left and the soft arch of a wall niche above. Form and proportion achieve a perfect balance in this visual symphony.
Vidwans Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Maharajapuram Santhanam, B. Rajam Iyer, M. Balamuralikrishna, R. Keshavamurthy, R.K. Srikantan, Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, T. N. Krishnan, N. Ramani, N. Ravikiran, Mandolin U. Srinivas, vidushis T. Brinda, T. Mukta, M.S. Subbulakshmi, D.K. Pattammal, Mani Krishnaswami and natya acharyas Rukmini Devi Arundale, Kalanidhi Narayanan, Vyjayantimala Bali, Sudharani Raghupathy, Chitra Viswesvaran, Shanta and V.P. Dhananjayan, Leela Samson and Alarmel Valli are among those featured in the hall of fame.
Rao’s profound imagery speaks as much about his sensitivity and perception as about his subjects who lived and breathed their craft. Many of these stalwarts are not with us today, but their creative spaces will always be inhabited by their brilliance and vision, discoveries and innovations, generosity and humility, laughter and humaneness, joys and passions.
The exhibition is on till January 9, 2016. Timings: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
