Amala Shankar Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Amala Shankar
Shankar in 2011
Born	Amala Nandy (1919-06-27)27 June 1919 Magura District, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died	24 July 2020(2020-07-24) (aged 101) Kolkata
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Danseuse, actress
Years active	1948
Spouse(s)	Uday Shankar
Children	Ananda Shankar, Mamata Shankar
Parent(s)	Akhoy Kumar Nandy (father)

Amala Shankar (born Amala Nandy, 27 June 1919 – 24 July 2020) was a famous Indian dancer. She was married to the well-known dancer and choreographer Uday Shankar. Amala was also the mother of musician Ananda Shankar and dancer Mamata Shankar. Her brother-in-law was the famous musician and composer Ravi Shankar.

Amala Shankar also acted in a film called Kalpana. Her husband, Uday Shankar, wrote, co-produced, and directed this movie. Amala Shankar passed away on 24 July 2020 in Kolkata, India, at the age of 101.

Her Life Story
The Film Kalpana
Films She Was In
Images for kids
See also

Her Life Story

Amala Shankar was born as Amala Nandy on 27 June 1919. Her birthplace was Batajor Village in Magura District. Her father, Akhoy Kumar Nandy, wanted his children to love nature and village life.

In 1931, when Amala was 11 years old, she visited an exhibition in Paris. There, she met Uday Shankar and his family. Amala was wearing a dress at the time. Uday Shankar's mother, Hemangini Devi, gave her a saree to wear. Soon after, Amala joined Uday Shankar's dance group. She traveled and performed with them all over the world.

In 1939, while in Chennai with the dance group, Uday Shankar asked Amala to marry him. They got married in 1942. Their first son, Ananda Shankar, was born in December 1942. Their daughter, Mamata Shankar, was born in January 1955.

Uday Shankar and Amala Shankar were a very popular dance pair for many years. Later, their dance partnership changed, and they lived separately. Uday Shankar passed away in 1977.

Even in her nineties, Amala Shankar stayed active. She helped keep the "Shankar gharana" (a style of dance) alive. She worked with her daughter Mamata and her daughter-in-law Tanushree Shankar. Amala was the sister-in-law of Ravi Shankar, who played the Sitar. Her last dance performance was in a show called Sita Swayamvar. She was 92 years old and played the role of King Janaka.

The Film Kalpana

Amala Shankar acted in the film Kalpana, which came out in 1948. Her husband, Uday Shankar, wrote, helped produce, and directed the movie. He also acted in it. Amala played a character named Uma in the film.

Amala Shankar went to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival where Kalpana was shown again. She shared that she was the youngest film star at the Cannes Film Festival many years ago. She said it was amazing to visit Cannes again after 81 years!