Arangetram

Arangetram is the debut on-stage performance of a classical art student, after undertaking years of training. Many believe that it is the graduation of dance. In reality, it marks the beginning of a new dance career. The word arangetram is from the Tamil language and means ascending the stage by a dancer on the completion of formal training. They can now move forward and pass on the art form to other aspiring learners of the art. Many Indian classical dance forms perform an arangetram once the time has come for a disciple. To perform an arangetram is an old tradition, which marks the pathway for a dancer to then perform alone or be able to give training to other dancers. Once a dancer has completed training he or she should have an understanding of classical music and the many aspects of dancing. Performing an arangetram does not entail the end of a dancer's career.

Etymology

In Tamil Arangam means a stage and etram means rising or climbing, thus Arangetram literally means climbing the stage or reaching the stage. It refers to the graduation ceremony where the Guru presents his or her pupil to the public. It traces its origins to the devdasi (temple dancer) tradition. Arangetram can also be done for other Indian classical dance styles such as Kathak, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Kathakali and vocal and instruments like Mridangam, ghatam, violin etc.

Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan (born 7 November 1954) is an Indian film actor, screenwriter, director, producer, playback singer, choreographer, lyricist, philanthropist and dancer who works primarily in the Tamil film industry. Haasan has won several Indian film awards including four National Film Awards and 19 Filmfare Awards. With seven submissions, Kamal Haasan has starred in the highest number of films submitted by India for the Academy Award Best Foreign Language Film. Haasan's production company, Rajkamal International, has produced several of his films. Kamal Haasan received the Kalaimamani Award in 1979, the Padma Shri Award in 1990 and the Padma Bhushan Award in 2014.

After several projects as a child, Haasan's breakthrough as a lead actor came in the 1975 drama Apoorva Raagangal, in which he played a rebellious youth in love with an older woman. He won his first National Film Award for his portrayal of a guileless schoolteacher who cares for a childlike amnesiac in Moondram Pirai (1983). Haasan was noted for his performances in Mani Ratnam's crime film Nayagan (1987), rated by Time magazine as one of the best films in cinema history as well as Shankar's vigilante film Indian (1996) which saw him playing dual roles of a father and a son. Since then he has appeared in a number of films including Hey Ram (2000), Virumaandi (2004), Vishwaroopam (2013) which were his own productions and Dasavathaaram (2008) in which he played ten different roles.