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Founder
Late Raghusutha Born into a literary family,
Vidwan Raghusutha was initiated into learning the Vedas,
the Upanishads and the Scriptures since the age of
eight. Raghusutha began writing books in 1952. He has
more than 300 books published to his name, which
includes novels, poems, short stories, plays and
biographies. Having worked as a geography lecturer, he
traveled widely in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Along
with his dancer son Prasanna he founded the Shanthala
Arts Academy with a view to encourage and spread Indian
art among the masses.
Founder of
Editorial involvement
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Gruhashobha - A feminine magazine in
Kannada
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Art Critic for Kannada Prabha
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Editor for Ubhaya Veda –Philospohical
Magazine
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Kannada contributor to Saptagiri-Kannada
magazine by TTD,Tirupati
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Editorial committee for the TTD
committee, Tirupathi.
Major literary Projects
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Responsible for publishing 12
editions of the encyclopedia of geography by the
University of Mysore.
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“Bharteeya Punya Naari Parampare”. A
book dedicated to the great women of India right from
the days of the Vedas to the 20th century women
politicians. Out of the 15-volume book, he could
complete and publish only 8.
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“Bharateeya Smruthigalu”. This book
contains a description of the 36 smrithis – a handbook
on traditional customs and traditions of a society,
which have been followed for ages.
Awards
Works on Dance and Music
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Past Presidents
History Of
Shantala Arts Academy -
In the year 1985 a small institution began in
Yeshwanthpur with a dream to spread the elegant art of
Bharathanatyam by conducting dance classes. What started
as a simple institution to impart Bharathanatyam
training in 1985 today has weathered 25 successful years
and is considered one of the premier arts instituions in
Karnataka. The first project of the academy was to host
a 24 hour marathon performance by Prasanna Kasthuri, an
event that created a world record in Bharathanatyam.
Next came national level dance and music festivals in
little hamlets around Bangalore that witnessed a
tremendous public response. Meanwhile the dancers of the
academy toured Europe and were invited by dance
companies in USA.
The academy began producing ground breaking dance
productions with artists of national and international
repute. Grammy award winner Pandit VishwaMohan Bhatt
produced music for "Rainbow II" a spectacular
collaboration between Soorya Performing Arts of St.Louis
USA that has toured all over the USA and was presented
in India as well. Dance productions like Subhadra
Parinaya was produced with French dancers and was
presented in Paris and Pondicherry. Innovative and
experimental "Rasa-Gathi" has been presented all over
India.
The academy added Dasara Music and Dance festivals
along with a doll exhibition(Bombe Pradarshana) that has
increased by leaps and bounds making it a collection of
more than 4000 dolls today. The students trained at the
academy have completed dance exams (conducted by the
Karnataka Secondary education Board) with flying colours,
have won national level and state level scholarships,
prizes in inter-school, inter-college, state and
inter-state competitions and have stared their own dance
institutions. Today the academy has branches in
Vidyaranyapura, Yelahanka, Mahalakshmi Layout,
Doddaballapura and Platinum City (Tumkur Road).
The academy also boasts of producing the ace
nattuvangist of Karnataka Vidwan Pulikeshi Kasturi and
heralded the importance of nattuvangam in the field of
dance by conducting annual, encore nattuvangam
workshops.
With the completion of 25 years the academy has reached
a major milestone and continues to be responsible for
spreading Indian classical arts far and wide.
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Dasara Festival
Dasara Festival- K R Padmaje, the curator of the
festival started the traditional Dasara doll festival in
1970 with a small collection of a few hundred dolls. In
the year 1990 the academy started inviting artists for
performances at their residence/dance school. Today the
academy boasts of a 4000+ doll collection and of
concerts in the adjacent RajaRajeshwari school
auditorium where almost all music and dance artists of
Bangalore have performed.
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Shantala Dance
Festival
With the dream of spreading the classical art forms to
little known places of Karnataka, the academy organised
first ever national dance and music festival in the
year 1987 in Bangalore.
Shantala Dance and Music festival -1986
Shantala Dance and Music festival - 1987 Vijayapura
Shantala Dance and Music festival 1988 Kanakapura
Shantala Dance and Music festival Nandi
Shantala Dance and Music festival Magadi
Shantala Dance and Music festival Nelamangala
Greeshma - Shantala Dance and Music festival
Shantala Awards
B R Sheshadri
Maya Rao
US Krishna Rao and ChandraBhagaDevi
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Raghusutha
Pratishthana
Annual Raghusutha Pratishthana festival - Instituted in
the name of Late Vidwan Raghusustha, founder of the
academy the annual festival is conducted on January 22nd
every year. A cultural performance(dance,drama, music)
and an award ceremony mark the evening. The awards have
been given to Vimala Rangachar and Master Hirannayya.
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