Sonal Man Singh is a former Rajya Sabha MP, an Indian classical dancer and a Guru in Bharatanatyam and Odissi dance styles. She received the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2003.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sonal Man Singh shares untold stories about Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and the challenges artists faced during the 1975 Emergency. She also discusses whether art can be separated from the artist.

She also speaks about today's cancel culture, how she got into dancing, the relationship between a Guru and Shishya, and what it takes to become a great dancer. She also shares her thoughts on whether today’s younger generation is losing interest in Indian classical dance.

00:00 – Introduction

00:56 – Dancing as a Career

05:58 – Rajya Sabha Experience

17:44 – Running Away from Home

24:02 – Divorce

24:55 – Kelucharan Mohapatra as a Guru

30:29 – Guru-Shishya Parampara

33:52 – Learning Odissi from Kelucharan Mohapatra

37:56 – Support from Family Members

39:18 – Story of Second Marriage

42:34 – Experience Meeting Indira Gandhi

47:57 – TM Krishna Getting Subhalakshmi Award Row

49:43 – Limits of Artistic Expression

53:59 – Inspiration to Be Creative

57:41 – Interacting with Pupul Jayakar

01:00:32 – Industrialists Backing Artists

01:08:26 – Living a Private Life

01:09:39 – Padma Award Story

01:17:26 – Why She Was Sacked from Sangeet Natak Akademi

01:20:10 – Cancel Culture

01:31:38 – Personal Relationships

01:35:51 – How to Handle Tough Times

01:37:21 – Favourite Cities for Performance

01:43:14 – Can an Atheist Emote Divinity in Dance?