Kathak and Contemporary Maestro Madhumati Leaves Indelible Mark on Hindi Cinema

Renowned dancer and actress Madhumati, who left an indelible mark on Hindi cinema with her fluid Kathak and contemporary dance moves, passed away last Wednesday at her Juhu residence in Mumbai. She was 84 years old.

Born Hutoxi Reporter in Thane in 1941 to a Parsi judge, Madhumati overcame parental opposition to start her career as a dancer. She made her film debut in the 1950s and went on to feature in numerous movies, often alongside renowned choreographer Gopi Krishna, until the 1970s. Her expressive performances in songs like "Jhanak jhanak tori baje payaliya" from "Mere Huzoor" and "Tere naina talaash karein jise" from "Talaash" were particularly memorable.

Madhumati was also the sister of noted cricket umpire Pilloo Reporter. At age 19, she married dancer Manohar Deepak, who choreographed many Punjabi Bhangra numbers in Hindi films. The couple together made a Marathi movie and ran a dance academy in Juhu where they trained several Bollywood stars, including Govinda, Akshay Kumar, and Tabu. Akshay Kumar paid tribute to Madhumati, calling her his "first and forever guru."