"Other than Kumara Sambhavam and Kutrala Kuravanchi, we also did Tagore's Shyama for his centenary. But playing Radha in Gita Govindam was my most memorable performance. According to the story, Radha is supposed to be older but she had to look innocent. Athai (Rukminidevi) cast me as Radha and my own teacher, Sarada Hoffman, as my sakhi," she says.

"I was both excited and scared when Athai used to call me and the musician to her house at night to practise the ashtapadis (verses about Lord Krishna). Since it was a Sringara Kavya and I was only 15, she taught me how to depict Sringara Abhinaya. When I look back now, I realise how fortunate I was to have learnt all that directly from her," she says.

Kalidasa's Shakuntalam was another unique experience for Shanta. Just like in the story, she was four months pregnant when they performed the epic!

"I still remember our stay in Assam in 1960. Athai and I shared a room. I performed even though I was very ill. When we returned to our room, she told me that I danced well despite high temperature, and started massaging my feet. I was shocked with my guru touching my feet," she says.

While learning dance at Kalakshetra, Dhananjayan also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics by correspondence and after his marriage, he decided to leave Kalakshetra and work in a commercial firm due to economic considerations. For three years, he worked at the firm during the day and tutored dance classes for children in the night.

He started teaching dance with just one student, who is still with the couple, even after 40 years.

Image: Dhananjayan (extreme right) in Sita Swayamvaram