Latest news with #RaghavRajBhatt
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Her loss is irreplaceable': Dance fraternity pays tribute to Kathak guru
Kathak dancer and guru Mangala Bhatt (62) passed away on Monday. She died at 12 pm at a hospital in Hyderabad. The news came as a shock to her fans, fellow dancers, family, and friends, who expressed their grief and remembered her contributions to the world of dance. Mangala, along with her husband Raghav Raj Bhatt, founded Aakruti Kathak Kendra in Hyderabad in 1990. The institute has trained thousands of students in Kathak over the years. In recognition of their contribution to Kathak, both were honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2019. Mangala receiving the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2019) from President Droupadi Murmu;(right) Kathak duo Mangala and Raghav Raj Bhatt, a couple both on and off stage. 'It is a huge loss as she promoted Kathak in Hyderabad for so many years. We worked together on many collaborations and had met just last month at a dance workshop in IIT Hyderabad. She was a strong lady. I pray that God gives strength to her family and students.' — Deepika Reddy, dancer 'My deepest condolences. Mangala ji was a wonderful dancer and choreographer who took Kathak to new heights. Her passing is a great loss to the fraternity.' — Mamidi Harikrishna, Director of Language and Culture, Telangana 'It is very sad. We grew up together and she was a good friend and a wonderful guru. Mangala passed away too early. She was one of the prominent figures who brought Kathak to Hyderabad and nurtured it with passion and dedication. Her loss is a big one for the dance community.' — Ananda Shankar Jayant, dancer
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Kathak danseuse Mangala Bhatt passes away in Hyderabad
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award-winning Kathak exponent Mangala Bhatt passed away in Hyderabad on Monday, June 16, due to a brain hemorrhage, said family sources. She was 62. She is survived by husband Raghav Raj Bhatt and son Madhav. The news was received with shock by the legions of her fans, co-dancers, family and friends who took to social media to share their grief. Mangala was a familiar face in the nation's cultural circuit as she experimented as well as performed the dance form that she learnt from her master, Pandit Durga Ji of Jaipur Gharana. Mangala and her husband Raghav Raj Bhatt brought the dance form to Hyderabad by establishing Aakruti Kathak Kendra in 1990 where thousands of students learnt Kathak from the couple. 'It is an immensely sad day for classical dance artistes across the country. Ever smiling and graceful, she ploughed through a rare illness over the last few months with great grit and strength. As recently as two weeks ago, she was immersed in a dance workshop for Spic Macay,' shared dancer Ananda Shankar Jayant on social media. 'Shocking, unbelievable and utterly sad — Kathak dancer and a dear friend, Mangala Bhatt, gone too soon,' shared writer, actor and activist Chandana Chakrabarti.
