Amala Shankar, Dancer and Actress
Dancer and Actress

Amala Shankar

Born 27 June 1919 · Bangladesh — Died 24 July 2020

Starred as the lead actress in the 1948 dance film Kalpana directed by Uday Shankar.

Amala Shankar was an Indian dancer. She was the wife of dancer and choreographer Uday Shankar and mother of musician Ananda Shankar and dancer Mamata Shankar and sister-in-law of musician and composer Ravi Shankar. Amala Shankar acted in the film Kalpana written, co-produced and directed by husband Uday Shankar. She died on Friday, 24 July 2020, in West Bengal's Kolkata, India aged 101.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

At the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, Amala Shankar attended the screening of Kalpana, noting it was her first time revisiting Cannes after 81 years since her initial visit as a child.

The Story

1
🌍 In 1931, 11-year-old Amala Nandy attended the International Colonial Exhibition in Paris, where a chance meeting with Uday Shankar's family led to her joining his dance troupe and adopting traditional Indian attire for the first time.
2
💃 By 1940, Amala had become a key member of the Uday Shankar India Culture Centre in Almora, where she trained and toured internationally, blending Indian classical dance with modern expressions.
3💍 In 1942, Amala married Uday Shankar in Chennai, soon after giving birth to their first son Ananda Shankar, intertwining personal life with their shared artistic ambitions.
4🎥 In 1948, Amala starred as Uma in Kalpana, an experimental dance-drama film written and directed by Uday Shankar, which revived decades later at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, marking an 81-year gap since her first visit.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 1931, 11-year-old Amala met Uday Shankar in Paris while wearing a frock, and was gifted a saree by Uday's mother Hemangini Devi, marking a symbolic transition in her cultural identity.

🖼️

Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Amala Shankar with Uday Shankar during a dance event in 1941.
Amala Shankar with Uday Shankar during a dance event in 1941.
1941

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth of Amala Nandy
Amala Nandy was born in Batajor Village, Magura District, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Bangladesh).
1919
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Career
Meeting Uday Shankar in Paris
At age 11, Amala attended the International Colonial Exhibition in Paris and met Uday Shankar and his family, joining his dance troupe soon after.
1931
🌟
Other
Marriage to Uday Shankar
Amala married Uday Shankar in Chennai; their first son Ananda was born the same year.
1942
⚡
Career
Acted in Kalpana
Amala played Uma in Kalpana, an innovative dance-drama film directed by Uday Shankar.
1948
🌟
Other
Birth of daughter Mamata Shankar
Mamata Shankar, who would become a dancer and actress, was born to Amala and Uday Shankar.
1954
⚡
Career
Kalpana screened at Cannes
Amala attended the Cannes Film Festival when Kalpana was screened, revisiting the festival 81 years after her first visit.
2012
🕊️
Death
Death of Amala Shankar
Amala Shankar passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal, at age 101.
2020
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

The dance film Kalpana (1948), featuring Amala Shankar, was revived and screened at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, 64 years after its original release.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Amala Shankar performed the role of King Janaka in Sita Swayamvar at age 92, challenging typical age roles in Indian classical dance.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

She helped shape the second phase of the Uday Shankar India Culture Centre in Calcutta in the 1950s, focusing on training children as young as five years old.

“

I was the youngest film star at the Cannes Film Festival... I am revisiting Cannes after a span of 81 years...

— Amala Shankar

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Dance Uday Shankar and Amala Shankar

🌱 What changed because of them

Amala Shankar played a crucial role in sustaining and evolving the Uday Shankar dance tradition through her teaching and performances, especially at the Uday Shankar India Culture Centre in Calcutta. Her mentorship helped nurture future generations including her daughter Mamata Shankar and daughter-in-law Tanushree Shankar, ensuring the continuity of this unique fusion style. The revival of Kalpana at Cannes also brought renewed attention to early Indian dance cinema.

💬 Social Buzz

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