Eighty-three-year old R Muthukannamal is a picture of grace. Dressed in a silk saree with strands of jasmine tucked in her braided hair, and a striking round, red bindi on her forehead, she greets women in the audience as she walks to the stage to receive the lifetime achievement award in the field of arts. A Padma Shri awardee, Muthukannamal is India’s last sadir dancer from Pudukottai, a seventh generation dancer having performed across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
It is believed that she is the last surviving dancer of the 32 devadasis who once performed for the deity at Viralimalai’s Murugan temple in Trichy. The gracious dancer hopes to keep the tradition alive by teaching the art form to the younger generation. She is one of the awardees at the sixth edition of We Wonder Women Awards that honours women from across various fields presented by Kovai Wonder Woman Trust.
