Bala (1976 film)

• Satyajit Ray: spokesman

Bala is a short documentary by Satyajit Ray from the year 1976 on the Tamil Bharatanatyam dancer Balasaraswati ( 1918-1984 ). The highlight is a lyrical Varnam at the end of the film that showcases their dancing skills.

Background

Ray saw the dancer for the first time in 1935 in Kolkata. In 1966, he wanted to make a film about them, but only ten years later came to this. The estimated value of the film Ray as a purely historical one - he has captured rare footage of a dancer for future generations. Balasaraswati itself was shy to speak English and refused to statements about their early life because dancing has been equated to that time in the higher Indian society with prostitution.