A tribute by Prof Dr Avinash Kolhe to legendary Lavani exponent Shakuntala Nagarkar, whose extraordinary artistry, wit, dignity, and lifelong devotion transformed Maharashtra's traditional folk performance into a celebrated theatrical form, leaving an enduring cultural legacy across generations forever.

The passing away of Shakuntala Nagarkar (1960–2026) last week was not just the death of a reputed performing artist. It was the end of an era—the era of classical Lavani. Shakuntalabai was grace personified on stage, where she enthralled millions of admirers. And for this, she never resorted to cheap body language to keep the cash register ringing.

For the last few months, she had been resting at her village, Nimgaon, just outside Ahilyanagar. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer, which finally claimed her on Wednesday, 23 September.

Shakuntala Nagarkar: The Woman Behind the Legend

Born in 1960 into Maharashtra's Kolhati community of hereditary performers, Shakuntala Nagarkar began dancing as a child under the guidance of her mother, Chhabu Bai Nagarkar. Over five decades, she became one of India's finest Lavani exponents, elevating the Sangeet Bari tradition with remarkable discipline, humour, and emotional depth. Honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2008 and the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Award for Best Actress in 2023, she remained a devoted performer until her final public appearance in April 2025, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped the cultural standing of Lavani in modern India.  

Shakubai, as she was fondly known, had a way of connecting with her audience that kept people returning to watch her dance. It was sheer magic.

Lavani's Journey from Margins to Mainstream

Of late, traditional Lavani dancers have been earning the admiration of mainstream theatre audiences and cultural institutions. For many years, Lavani was dismissed as cheap entertainment, a low-brow art. Tamasha, the vibrant folk theatre of Maharashtra, was equally looked down upon by elite audiences. Lavani and Tamasha found their strongest patrons in Lalbaug and Parel—popularly known as Girangaon—the heartland of Mumbai's textile mills. 

It was the late Dada Kondke (1932–1998) who, with his landmark play Vichcha Mazi Puri Kara, brought Tamasha into respected urban theatre spaces at a time when very few productions centred on Lavani. This epoch-making folk play was repeatedly staged at Shivaji Mandir in Mumbai and Balgandharva Rang Mandir in Pune. That was when the walls of cultural prejudice first began to crack. In time, Lavani artists such as Surekha Punekar and Shakuntala Nagarkar earned the respect of the urban middle class.

The Soul of a Timeless Folk Art

Lavani, the traditional folk dance of Maharashtra, embodies a rich narrative of love, longing, and sensuality. Its performances are characterised by intricate movement, expressive abhinaya, rhythmic footwork, and poetic lyrics that captivate audiences. Drawing viewers into stories of romantic anticipation and the complexities of human desire, Lavani remains an art form that is both deeply rooted in tradition and strikingly contemporary in its emotional power.

Artists like Shakuntalabai stand in the long tradition of public entertainment with a purpose. As a performative tradition, Lavani can be traced back to the 13th century, when historical texts referred to the songs and dances of the Kolhatin community, celebrated for entertaining people through rope-walking and performance at village bazaars and annual fairs. From the 16th century onwards, Lavanis began to be composed as a distinct poetic form. The next great chapter belonged to legendary shahirs—balladeers such as Honaji Bala (1754–1844) and Ram Joshi (1769–1843). During the Peshwa period, Pune emerged as an important centre of Lavani culture. In the latter half of the 20th century, Lavani entered mainstream entertainment through the electrifying performances of artists like Shakuntala Nagarkar, whose productions frequently played to packed houses.

Beyond Shringar: A Complete Performer

Shakuntala Nagarkar was much more than a Lavani artist celebrated for Shringar Rasa. She possessed extraordinary comic timing, could effortlessly lampoon upper-caste sensibilities, and moved with equal ease between satire, social commentary and longing.

A Legacy That Will Endure

The 21st-century contribution of Shakuntalabai Nagarkar received national recognition with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2008, one of India's highest honours in the performing arts. In 2023, she won the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Award (META) for Best Actress, reaffirming her remarkable versatility beyond traditional performance. Despite being diagnosed with cancer in 2020, she continued to perform almost until the very end. Her last public performance came in April 2025. A true performer who, quite literally, died in the saddle.