New Delhi

A fond farewell to Subbudu

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Veteran dance and music critic P. V. Subramanian `Subbudu', who passed away on Thursday, was cremated at Nigambodh Ghat here on Friday morning.

Relatives and friends had been gathering at the family residence in East Delhi as news of his death spread. Leading the distinguished visitors was President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who made a personal visit hours after Subbudu breathed his last to place a rose from the Mughal Gardens on the body. Later Rashtrapati Bhavan staff placed a wreath.

Eminent artistes and writers paid their respects to India's doyen of performing arts criticism. These included well-known poet Ashok Vajpei, visual artist Naresh Kapuria, arts commentators Sunil Kothari, Shanta Serbjeet Singh, Leela Venkataraman and Manna Srinivasan. Classical dancers S. Kanaka, Raja Reddy, Saroja Vaidyanathan, Sharon Lowen, Jayalakshmi Easwar and Rama Vaidyanathan were present among others, besides a large number of musicians.

Artistes fondly remembered Subbudu's wit and formidable knowledge of performing arts. "This is the end of an era," commented mridangam player Karaikudi Sivakumar.

"He always supported young people. I will never forget his encouraging smile," said Kapuria.

"The difference between him and other critics was, he was a musician himself," said Reddy. "He wrote from his soul. No one could stop him."

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