A day after she was honoured with the Padma Shri, Mamata Shankar, who has stood out through her performances in critically acclaimed films, said Sunday she didn’t “expect anything like this”.
Among the nine people from West Bengal who were awarded the Padma Shri, Shankar said she had “no words”. “I had never even dreamt of it, I am so happy. I thank my Sai Baba, my parents and our Central Government for giving me this honour. I just do my work and I never think of awards. This recognition is beyond my expectations,” she told The Indian Express.
Born to dancers Uday and Amala Shankar, Shankar has acted in films helmed by directors, including Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Rituparno Ghosh, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, and Gautam Ghosh. She is also a dancer and choreographer who received her training at the Uday Shankar India Culture Centre. Shankar made her film debut with Mrigayaa in 1976, which was directed by Mrinal Sen. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film for the year.
The 70-year-old said her family is very happy about the recognition. “I want to thank all who have seen my work, and who know me and love me. I want people who don’t know me to see my work as I want to improve myself. My birthday was on January 7 and this is the most prestigious gift to me. I don’t know how to express my feelings.”
Mamata Shankar said she wants to bring the gharana of her father forward. “I am trying to spread it as it can really bind people together. I never did anything thinking of any recognition or award, but when such a recognition comes I think it’s God’s gift,” said Mamata who runs the Mamata Shankar Dance Company.
The Centre announced the list of recipients for the Padma Awards Saturday on the eve of Republic Day. The President approved the conferment of 139 Padma Awards, comprising seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri Awards.
Others who were conferred the Padma Shri from West Bengal are singer Arijit Singh, drummer Gokul Chandra Das, educationist Nagendra Nath Roy, industrialists Pawan Goenka and Sajjan Bhajanka, Swami Pradiptananda, sarod artiste Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, and social worker Vinayak Lohani.