Sayee Subbulakshmi

Sayee and Subbulakshmi as they appear in Naya Sansar (1959) Hindi Film

Sayee and Subbulakshmi, popularly known as Sayee Subbulakshmi, were two Indian female Bharatanatyam dancers who performed on stage in South Indian and Hindi films. They were a twin dance duo and were popular during the 1950s and 60s. They were noted for their synchronised dancing. They also performed Kathak and folk style dances in some regional language and Hindi films.

Family

They hail from a very large family whose members are well connected to the film industry. They are the descendants of Panrutti Adilakshmi, mother of Carnatic singers P. A. Rajamani and P. A. Periyanayaki who were popularly known as Madras Sisters. They have also featured in Tamil films in various roles. P. A. Periyanayaki was also known as a playback singer. Lux soap beauty R. Padma who featured in the 1941 hilarious comedy film Sabapathy is the mother-inlaw of Sayee.

(Note: Sayee is said to be the daughter of P. A. Rajamani and Subbulakshmi, who is 3 years older to Sayee, is her cousin. This could not be confirmed. However, both of them are closely related and belong to the same extended family.)

Dance training

Sayee (L) Guru Muthuswami Pillai, Subbulakshmi

Muthusami Pillai is a dance teacher who had choreographed dances for films since 1938. When he was choreographing a dance by B. S. Saroja for the film Inbavalli at Salem Ratna Studios, P. A. Periyanayaki who was a playback singer in the film, approached him and made a request to train her niece Sayee and her cousin Subbulakshmi in dancing. Muthuswami Pillai accepted and came to stay with the family enabling him to give exclusive training to the two. Sayee was about 5 years old at that time. He took both the girls to dance performances by Kumari Kamala. At times, when there is a big crowd, he will hoist them both to his shoulders so that they can view the dance without interruption.

The two girls had a rigorous training - 3 hours in the morning and another 3 or 4 hours in the evening. Muthusami Pillai trained them for 7 years in between his film assignments and his annual holiday in Kutralam. He took classes whenever he was in town.

They trained in Kathak dance by Gopi Krishna who was a dancer and the choreographer for the famed Hindi film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje.

Arangetram and Introduction to films

Sayee and Subbulakshmi had their Arangetram on 14 September 1953 at R. R. Sabha Hall in Chennai presided over by Rajah Sir M. A. Muthaiah Chettiar.

Within a year they had their first performance in the award-winning film Malaikkallan. The film was produced in 6 languages that opened opportunities far and wide for this dancing duo.

Apart from dancing they have also featured in minor roles in some of the films they danced.

Since 1954, they have performed in many South Indian regional films and Hindi films.

Bharatanatyam performances

They held stage performances as well. When Sivaji Ganesan built a new house Annai Illam at Thiyagaraya Nagar in Chennai, the Bharatanatyam performance by Sayee and Subbulakshmi was the main item during reception.

Style of dancing

araimandi (half-seated) position in dance from the film Malaikkallan

The duo were felicitated by N. S. Krishnan as Pambara Sahodarigal (Spinning top sisters). The speed, precision, flexibility, springing leg movements coupled with the synchronisation made them a unique pair in the Indian dancing world.

In Bharatanatyam there are two positions called araimandi (half-seated) and muzhumandi (fully seated) involving kneework and back-bends. Sayee and Subbulakshmi will perform these two positions with such speed and precision and moreover, their synchronisation is an awesome performance to watch. (See external links below for the video)

Dance Teacher

After the 1960s the trend in Indian films underwent a radical change and the type of dances performed by this duo went unnoticed. Subbulakshmi taught Bharatanatyam to students. She was felicitated with the Kalaimamani award in 2000 for her services as a teacher.

Personal life

Sayee was married to V. S. Santaram, eldest son of Lux beauty R. Padma. They have a son. Sayee suffered from breast cancer and died on 26 January 2010.

Filmography

Bibliography

• "Sayee and Subbulakshmi's Film-industry Relatives". Cinema Nritya Gharana. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. 
• "Muthuswami Pillai's Star Students". Cinema Nritya Gharana. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. 
• "Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955)". Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. 
• "Dances on the Footpath". Richard S. 24 October 2008. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. 

External links

• Neeli Magan on YouTube - Their First film dance in Malaikkallan. Bharatanatyam based.
• Dhadka Ho Dil Dhadka Guzra Gali Se on YouTube - From the film Bharosa. Kathak based.