Kalamandalam Radhika

Dr. Kalamandalam Radhika is an Indian classical dancer, choreographer, research scholar, teacher, writer and philanthropist. She was the first non-resident Keralite to win the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi award for Mohiniyattom. She learnt Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali and other dance forms.

Dr. Kalamandalam Radhika
Dr. Kalamandalam Radhika
Born
Bangalore
OccupationDancer, choreographer and stage performer

Early years and education

Dr. Kalamandalam Radhika was born in Bangalore to K.K Nair, a chartered accountant. She started learning dancing at the age of three under Guru Rajan, and later learnt Kathakali from Muttar Sri. Narayana Panicker and mridhangamvaitharis from Guru Ponniahpillai. In the late 1960s, she moved to Cheruthuruthy and stayed at the Kalamandalam for four years. Under the wings of Chinnammu Amma, Kalamandalam Sathyabhama and Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair she was moulded into a skilled performer. Her tutelage under the late Kalamandalam Kalyani Kutty Amma and her training under Kalamandalam Padmanabha Ashan in Kathakali honed her skills.[1]

Dancer and choreographer

She has conducted more than two thousand performances in India and abroad at national and international levels. She is a member of the UNESCO International Dance Council, and has conducted her performances for WHO delegates, SAARC delegates, diplomats, Soviet representatives, and others.[2] To explore the depths of Mohiniyattom, she has undertaken extensive research, and re-organized the basic steps, jewellery and costumes worn by Mohiniyattom dancers of the early 1940s.[3][4] She has executed and choreographed biblical themes including the advent of Christianity in India, and the birth of Christ.

Radhika has conducted workshops in US, UK, Europe, Atlanta, and Germany. She has also choreographed and danced for Behold Thy Mother, a biblical film directed by an Italian priest Fr.Gerard. She has composed and choreographed five cholkettus, three varnams and innumerable padams in different languages. She was criticized for performing biblical themes in Mohiniattam, but the poetical works of VeerappaMoily, Kuvempu, Fr. Abel, Amruth Someshwar and St. Chavara as adapted by Radhika were well received.[5]

Author

Radhika has written numerous articles for the dance and music magazine Shrutilaya and has submitted a paper on Mohiniyattom at a seminar organized by the NCERT on the subject of ‘Dance Education in Schools'. She has also written an article about the Devadasi system of Kerala for the weekly Indu , published from Houston, USA, and is the author of the books 'Mohiniyattom-The Lyrical Dance of Kerala´ and ‘Mudra’ published by Mathrabhoomi.[6][7]

Acting
Television
Year Film Role Channel Language Notes
2019–PresentSumangali BhavaMuthassiZee KeralamMalayalam
2016-2017Manjal PrasadamNagamadathammaFlowers TVMalayalam
2011-2012Kadhayile RajakumariAbhi's MotherMazhavil ManoramaMalayalam
Film
Year Film Role language
2014Namma GramamNarayaniTamil
2012GramamNarayaniMalayalam
2012ChaptersLady at hospitalMalayalam
2012OrdinaryJose's motherMalayalam
2011VeeraputhranVayattatiMalayalam
2010Kadha ThudarunnuPrincipalMalayalam
2010JanakiMalayalam
2009RituSarath's motherMalayalam
2008Innathe Chintha VishayamMalayalam
2008De Ingottu NokkiyePoliticianMalayalam
2007VinodayathraDoctorMalayalam
2007NivedyamRamavarma Thampuran's sisterMalayalam
2006RasathanthramNunMalayalam
2005Achuvinte AmmaMoothumma's relativeMalayalam
1982KilukilukkamDance teacherMalayalam
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See also

References
  1. "Entertainment Thiruvananthapuram / Personality : Dancer and philanthropist". The Hindu. 1 April 2005. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  2. "Kerala Interviews,Interview of the week". Kerala.com. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  3. "Kalamandalam Radhika is one of the finest exponents of Mohiniattam". Blackboard.lincoln.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  4. "Two decades in Art Journalism". GS Paul. 17 March 2000. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  5. "Home". Thecmsindia.org. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  6. Radhika, Kalamandalam (1 January 2004). "Mohiniattam: The Lyrical Dance of Kerala". Mathrubhumi Books – via Google Books.
  7. "Review - Atlanta hosts the 'Ambassador of Mohiniattom' by Arun P Madangarli". Narthaki.com. 6 September 2003. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
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