Feature of the month: Kalki Diwali Issue, 1942 When women from non-professional families took up dancing, great gurus like Pandanallur Meenakshisundaram Pillai began to teach some of the new entrants in this field. The 1942 Diwali issue of Kalki, a Tamil journal, decided to record this event in cultural history. The journal published photographs of the new entrants as well as the well-known professional dancers like Balasaraswathi and Jayalakshmi.

Rukmani Devi
The famous student of Meenakshisundaram Pillai

Pandanallur Jayalakshmi student of Meenashisundaram Pillai

Pandanallur Meenashisundaram Pillai, the great guru.

Radha of Kalakshetra

Kalanidhi who justifies the name given to her by her parents

Balasaraswati who gave new life to Bharatanatyam