Durga Lal

Who is Durga Lal?

Pandit Durga Lal was a renowned Kathak dancer of the Jaipur Gharana. He was born in Mahendragarh, Rajasthan. He is known for playing the title main role in the 1989 dance drama Ghanashyam; the music of which was composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar and was produced by Birmingham Opera Company. For his contributions to the field of Kathak form of dance he was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, by Government of India. He had also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 1984.

Lal was a disciple of Sunder Prasdji. Along with being a Kathak dancer he was also a singer and would play Pakhvaj. He taught Kathak at the National Institute of Kathak Dance, New Delhi. Lal's brother Pandit Devi Lal was also a renowned Kathak dancer. Devi Lal's wife Gitanjali Lal is also a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award winner. Both brothers died at an early age. After Durga Lal's death his children and other art fraternity members have been organising an annual festival called Pandit Durga Lal Memorial Festival. He has two children, elder daughter Nupur and younger son Mohit. Nupur is Kathak performer and vocalist and Mohit is a percussionist. His disciples include renowned dancers Uma Dogra and Jayant Kastuar amongst others. In memory of Lal, Dogra has arranged the "Pandit Durga Lal Samaroh" for more than 15 years as of 2005. She has also made a documentary Nirvana Through Dance on him.