In 2019, Bharatanatyam artist Narthaki Natraj became the first transwoman to receive India’s fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri. Her journey is said to have made it to the Tamil Nadu government’s textbook.
Narthaki left home at a young age, and fought the rampant social taboo that trans persons face. She soon became a symbol of transgender empowerment in the field, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
Braving poverty and social stigma, Narthaki followed her passion to become a dancer with the financial support of Shakti – her childhood friend.
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar (2011) and the Vetri Award of the University of Madras for performers from marginalised communities in society (2013) are among her other distinctions.
Narthaki has a rare collection of Tamil literature, which she uses for research in her solo and group productions. Some of her dance productions are ‘Tamizh Amudhu’, ‘Siva Darisanam’, ‘Shakthi Darisanam’, ‘Kumara Vijayam’, ‘AranganVaibhavam’, ‘SwatantraVriksha’ and productions on contemporary issues.
Picture Credit : Google
