Bala (1976) - Satyajith Ray

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074177/


This is Satyajit Ray's magnificent documentary on T Balaswaraswati (1918-1984), the legendary Bharatanatyam Dancer. Made in 1976, when Bala was 59, the documentary traces the biography of Bala, but above all concentrates on her dance and gives us a truly unforgettable glimpse into the art of one of the greatest geniuses from India.

Comments/Review:

Dr. Narayana Menon called her the greatest dancer India has produced in a thousand years. T Balaswaraswati or Bala as she was commonly known, was not just a great dancer. She dominated the field for a generation, enriching the existing tradition, providing a corrective to current practices and setting standards for generations to follow. If Classical Western Ballet had a Anna Pavlova or a Vaslav Nijnsky, Bharatanatyam had Bala. Critics raved over her performances, describing the fluidity of her movements, the maginificence of
her Abhinaya (or mime). One went so far as to say that to see Bala dance was to touch divinity.

Only a great master could capture such divinity. Satyajit Ray's tribute to Bala does not use any extraordinary cinematographic techniques. The greatness lies in the simplicity of his treatment. He just lets Bala's dance speak for itself. And do remember you are seeing the dancer when she was 59. Imagine for yourself what she must have been in her prime.

So just sit back and let Bala's magic engulf you. Therein also lies the magic of Satyajit Ray.

Notes:

This very rare Documentary is not commercially available. Its rarely screened or broadcast these days and was taped on VHS during one such analog broadcast. I have cleaned up the video, removed two very large and extremely disturbing logos and re-encoded.

The source being what it is, the video leaves much to be desired. It has a profusion of jaggies, other artifacts, screen noise etc. But, despite all its faults, it brings back Bala to us.

http://rapidshare.com/files/309317633/Bala.1976.XviD.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/309507347/Bala.1976.XviD.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/309683178/Bala.1976.XviD.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/309844990/Bala.1976.XviD.part4.rar


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