Key Highlights
- The tribute: Saira Banu shared an emotional note for her Kathak guru Roshan Kumari, who passed away recently.
- More than a teacher: “She became a confidante, a friend, an elder sister-like presence, and eventually, family.”
- At her wedding: Roshan Kumari was present when Saira married Dilip Kumar.
- Jaipur Gharana legend: Saira called her “a true legend of the Jaipur Gharana.”
- On screen: Her dance sequence in Satyajit Ray’s Jalsaghar (1958) remains celebrated.
Veteran actress Saira Banu has paid an emotional tribute to her Kathak guru, Roshan Kumari, who passed away recently. Sharing throwback photos on Instagram, she wrote:
“Some goodbyes are impossible to write. Today, I find myself trying to say goodbye to my beloved Guru, Padmashree Roshan Kumari Ji, and every word feels inadequate.”
From Guru to Family
Saira said Roshan Kumari’s role in her life went far beyond teaching. “Roshan Ji came into my life as my Kathak Guru, but over the years, she became so much more. She became a confidante, a friend, an elder sister-like presence, and eventually, family. I was a young girl when I went to her to learn Kathak, and little did I know that I was meeting someone who would leave an imprint on my soul forever.”
She added that her guru taught her a deeper meaning of dance. “She taught me that dance was not merely movement. It was discipline, devotion, expression and, above all, a way of revealing the heart.”
Present on Her Wedding Day
“She became such an inseparable part of my life that she was also there when Dilip Sahib and I got married. To have my Guru present on such a precious day remains one of those memories I will hold close to my heart forever,” Saira wrote.
“Her Footwork Could Thunder”
“What an extraordinary artist she was! A true legend of the Jaipur Gharana. Her footwork could thunder, her chakkars could mesmerise, and yet there was always an unmistakable grace and dignity about her.”
Who Was Roshan Kumari?
Roshan Kumari was born into a family of musicians. Her mother, Zohra Begum, was a leading playback singer of her time, and her father, Faqir Mohammed, was a renowned tabla and pakhawaj artiste. She trained under several masters, including Hanuman Prasad and Sunder Prasad of Jaipur, and became a celebrated exponent of the Jaipur Gharana of Kathak. She also ran a Kathak school in Mumbai and received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
A Landmark in Indian Cinema
Her most famous screen moment came in Satyajit Ray’s Jalsaghar (1958), which featured her dance sequence. She also appeared in films such as Mirza Ghalib (1954) and Basant Bahar (1956), and later worked as a choreographer on films including Gopi (1970), Lekin... (1990) and Sardari Begum (1996).
Why It Matters: A Bond That Reached the Screen
The guru-disciple bond extended into cinema too. Roshan Kumari choreographed Gopi (1970), which starred Saira Banu alongside Dilip Kumar. For Rajasthan, her legacy carries special meaning: she was one of the most celebrated torchbearers of the Jaipur Gharana, one of Kathak’s major schools.
The Bottom Line
From teaching a young Saira Banu to standing beside her on her wedding day, Roshan Kumari was, in her student’s words, family. Her art, from Jalsaghar to the many dancers she trained, will continue to speak for her.
Saira Banu’s tribute has been sourced from her official Instagram account.
Key Highlights
- The tribute: Saira Banu shared an emotional note for her Kathak guru Roshan Kumari, who passed away recently.
- More than a teacher: “She became a confidante, a friend, an elder sister-like presence, and eventually, family.”
- At her wedding: Roshan Kumari was present when Saira married Dilip Kumar.
- Jaipur Gharana legend: Saira called her “a true legend of the Jaipur Gharana.”
- On screen: Her dance sequence in Satyajit Ray’s Jalsaghar (1958) remains celebrated.
Veteran actress Saira Banu has paid an emotional tribute to her Kathak guru, Roshan Kumari, who passed away recently. Sharing throwback photos on Instagram, she wrote:
“Some goodbyes are impossible to write. Today, I find myself trying to say goodbye to my beloved Guru, Padmashree Roshan Kumari Ji, and every word feels inadequate.”
From Guru to Family
Saira said Roshan Kumari’s role in her life went far beyond teaching. “Roshan Ji came into my life as my Kathak Guru, but over the years, she became so much more. She became a confidante, a friend, an elder sister-like presence, and eventually, family. I was a young girl when I went to her to learn Kathak, and little did I know that I was meeting someone who would leave an imprint on my soul forever.”
She added that her guru taught her a deeper meaning of dance. “She taught me that dance was not merely movement. It was discipline, devotion, expression and, above all, a way of revealing the heart.”
Present on Her Wedding Day
“She became such an inseparable part of my life that she was also there when Dilip Sahib and I got married. To have my Guru present on such a precious day remains one of those memories I will hold close to my heart forever,” Saira wrote.
“Her Footwork Could Thunder”
“What an extraordinary artist she was! A true legend of the Jaipur Gharana. Her footwork could thunder, her chakkars could mesmerise, and yet there was always an unmistakable grace and dignity about her.”
Who Was Roshan Kumari?
Roshan Kumari was born into a family of musicians. Her mother, Zohra Begum, was a leading playback singer of her time, and her father, Faqir Mohammed, was a renowned tabla and pakhawaj artiste. She trained under several masters, including Hanuman Prasad and Sunder Prasad of Jaipur, and became a celebrated exponent of the Jaipur Gharana of Kathak. She also ran a Kathak school in Mumbai and received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
A Landmark in Indian Cinema
Her most famous screen moment came in Satyajit Ray’s Jalsaghar (1958), which featured her dance sequence. She also appeared in films such as Mirza Ghalib (1954) and Basant Bahar (1956), and later worked as a choreographer on films including Gopi (1970), Lekin... (1990) and Sardari Begum (1996).
Why It Matters: A Bond That Reached the Screen
The guru-disciple bond extended into cinema too. Roshan Kumari choreographed Gopi (1970), which starred Saira Banu alongside Dilip Kumar. For Rajasthan, her legacy carries special meaning: she was one of the most celebrated torchbearers of the Jaipur Gharana, one of Kathak’s major schools.
The Bottom Line
From teaching a young Saira Banu to standing beside her on her wedding day, Roshan Kumari was, in her student’s words, family. Her art, from Jalsaghar to the many dancers she trained, will continue to speak for her.
Saira Banu’s tribute has been sourced from her official Instagram account.