The ICCR selects artistes to represent India on foreign tours. She took the issue to court and lost. Because Justice A. K. Sikri ruled that the rule of the organisation (ICCR) does not allow a dancer above 45 years to give performances.

Komala isn't happy. And says she will keep the issue alive. But the case has evoked different responses.

Some artistes feel talented artistes are best when they are in their 40s. Others think that once you are 50-plus, it is time to retire from the stage. And teach and lecture. The case also raises many questions on how arts bodies affiliated to the state run the arts.

If you have a strong view on this issue, feel free to -email your views to editor@kutcheribuzz.com. We want to feature all responses here.
Here are the responses we received at KutcheriBuzz...

Yes..if one's body could dance to the tune at this age, then what is wrong? Hemamalini is also 50+. Dance is also a body language like karate and other sports.When one can do yoga and excercises till one is fit why can't one dance, till one is fit? Jayanthi Srikrishna Some young dancers perform badly. The audience reviews should determine the quality of a performer. I wonder what age Shiva and Parvati, the celestial couple are? Should we ask them to stop dancing because of their age? Uma Eachempati St. Louis / U.S.A I am of the opinion that age has nothing to do with performance, if the artiste herself feels she can perform. The audience is the best judge to opine if the performance is good or not. Artistes, who feel that age is against them, will, on their own desist from performing. Hence, the decision of the court is not correct. - G Vaidyanathan, Nagpur One wonders if ICCR has heard of Vyjayanthimala Bali who continues to give scintillating performances despite her age of (?) - Mani If you could consider various Kathakali artistes in the dancer category there are several great names to justify that even 60, or 70 or for that matter even 80s does not matter. Even the great Kelucharan Mohapatra, the Odissi master performed when he was well past that age. - Krishnan, Minneapolis, U.S "Knowledge matures with experience. The decision of ICCR to send Komala Varadan abroad for lecture-demonstrations, has created ruptures in the harmonious relations with the artist community. How will it be possible for ICCR to 'strengthen cultural relations & mutual understanding with other countries', (which is ICCR's motto) if it is not able to maintain co-ordial relations with the artistes?" - V. Srikanth, Noida, (U.P.) I am a dancer/choreographer and writer who lives in Southern California. Recently the ICCR's (the Indian Council for Cultural Relations) bizarre rule that dancers over 45 will not be considered as performing artists in their list/files came to my attention. I took it upon myself to inform the dance community in the U.S about it and was instrumental in getting the Los Angeles Times to even do a brief story on it. The repercussions of organizations making such decisions about who should dance ... and when and why ... are quite powerful, especially when it comes from a country whose dance forms have always strived to transcend the physical and lead to the spiritual. I have written an article on the subject of ageism in dance and it has been published in Narthaki-On-Line. It can be accessed at: http://www.narthaki.com/info/articles/art85.html Please feel free to write to me with your comments - Ramaa Bharadvaj Director, Angahara Ensemble CA 92887, U.S.A An on name answer: Pandit Birju Maharaj. Well past his 50s, I guess, but still a wonderful, captivating Kathak performer and genius. His premier student, Saswati Sen, must be now in her late 40s. Would anyone suggest that her fantastic dancing ability is going to switch itself off on her 50th birthday? What nonsense! - Nick Haynes Mridangam & Morsing student of M Balachandar, London, UK.