His sudden demise has left a void that is certainly difficult to fill. Because he was like a bridge between the past and the present. Without the presence of such people, it is difficult for artists to do any study or research into the various interesting aspects of this genre.
The entire dance fraternity is in shock due to his demise. Gurus like him not only taught repertoire, they carried on tradition and culture.
Known for his tireless efforts to promote the arts, Guru Harambanathan represented an age-old heritage at Bharatham, and waved the flag of Thanjavur Bani. I remember a two and a half hour lecture given to BFA and MFA (Bharatanatyam) students of Sastra University at Nrityodaya, Chennai. He opened his eyes to the beautiful heritage of Thanjavur, which has been a seat of culture.
In Thanjavur, performers were classified as belonging to the ‘thattu’ (nattuvangam), ‘muttu’ (playing the mridangam), and ‘attu’ (dance) families. Guru Herambanathan belonged to the hereditary ‘Muttukkar’ family, who played the mridangam for the sadir.
In addition to the in-depth knowledge of rhythm that he had inherited, and while performing nattuvangam or performing as a percussionist, he also began to teach dance.
He created history by becoming the first dance instructor of the Isai Vellalar community for Bhagavatmela actors in Melattur. This Bhagavatam troupe led by Mahalingam introduced dance elements to Herambanathan in their plays. He also became an integral part of the orchestra. As a result, one got to see a great mix of Bhagavatamela and Nattuvamela.
When I organized the Thanjavur festival on behalf of the Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi in February 2022, Guru Herambanathan delivered a lecture on the Adavu Technique and Teaching Method with performances by his young students. His simple nature made him a true friend of the fraternity.
It is a matter of great comfort that his sons Swaminathan and Hari will continue the age-old tradition.
The author is an experienced Bharatnatyam dancer and scholar.