Profile of Dr. Dipti Omcheri Bhalla

Talent, versatility, devotion, passion – the words that well describe Dr. Deepti Omchery Bhalla, the leading exponent of Mohiniyattam. A true artist at the core; she is a unique combination of singer and dancer, well-accomplished and talented in both.

Deepti was initiated into the world of music and dance when she was only four. Her entry into the artistic realm at such a tender age, gave her the sacred privilege of being the disciple of great masters. She studied Kathakali under the eminent gurus, Guru Gopinath, Guru Punnatur Madhava Panikkar and Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan, besides other teachers of International Centre for Kathakali in Delhi, where she was a student for more than 12 years.

She has inherited her musical legacy from her mother and well-known carnatic singer, Dr. (Smt) Leela Omchery. Apart from her mother, her other music teachers include Vidwan T.S. Raghavan and the teachers of the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, University of Delhi from where she took her M.A; M.Phil, and Ph.D in Carnatic music. She is also proficient in Hindustani music, having mastered it from the renowned singers, Ustad Unus Hussain Khan and Dagar Brothers.

A fabulous dancer of Mohiniyattam, she owes her tremendous expertise and aesthetic perfection to Kalamandalam Kalyanikutti Amma and Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan, the proponents of the classical dance form. She has conducted Mohiniyattom performances in various cities in India and abroad. She has toured extensively in Europe, Malaysia, Singapore, USSR, Japan and Egypt as part of her performances.

She is also actively engaged in guiding research scholars of Universities and fellowship recipients of Department of Culture, Government of India. Currently, she is the Reader in Carnatic Music at the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, University of Delhi.

Achievements

Her phenomenal contribution to the realm of music and dance has won her several awards and distinctions. Her casket of honors and credentials include Abhivyakti Kala Sangam Award (Dance), Nana Miniscreen Award (Music), Delhi Academy of Arts Scholarship and Fellowships for research from University Grants Commission as well as Ministry of Culture, India.

Dr. Deepti Omchery’s contribution as a researcher and author has brought her endless appreciation from the artistic fraternity. Her thesis for Ph.D on “Sopana Music of Kerala” is a veritable milestone in the field of the indigenous classical music of Kerala. She also did a project on Music and Musical Instruments of India for Sangeet Natak Academy. She has participated in a major dance-music project, “Geeta Govindam”, a multi-media programme produced jointly by Xerox, USA and IGNCA, India.

Dr. Deepti is also blessed with the credit of having performed in some of the leading dance festivals of India such as Khajuraho Festival (Madhya Pradesh), Avad Sandhya Festival (UttarPradesh), Apna Utsav (Delhi), Mamallapuram Festival (Chennai), Parangotsav (Mysore), Lucknow Mahotsav(Uttar Pradesh), Uttar Dakshin Sangeet Sangam(Delhi), Ragini Devi Desh Videsh Utsav(Delhi), Nishagandhi Festival(Kerala), Festival of Music and Dance(Tirupati), ‘Swarna Samaroh’ in Chennai Kalakshetra and SPIC-MACY concert/ Lec Dem(Aurangabad). Among her performances abroad are Festival of India-USSR, Asia-Pacific Expo-Japan, Indian Republic Day Celebration-Zurich and Hungary Festival.

Taken From

http://www.heritageindia.org/deepthi/artist.htm