Bhanumati Rao

🪔 About

Bhanumati Rao (December 4, 1923 – February 12, 2022) was a distinguished Indian classical dancer, teacher, and stage actress. Born in Kozhikode, Kerala, she specialized in both Kathakali and Bharatanatyam. Rao began her dance training as a child, initially learning Kathakali, a male-dominated art form, and later Bharatanatyam for nearly two decades. At the age of 24, she moved to the United Kingdom to study library science, where she also commenced her professional dance career as a member of Indian classical dancer Ram Gopal's troupe. With Ram Gopal's group, she toured India and Europe in the 1940s, performing Indian classical dance and contributing to war efforts. Following her marriage to Krishna Rao, she resided in New York during the 1950s, continuing to perform for international audiences, including Indian diplomats and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. She was instrumental in introducing Indian classical dance to global audiences and often innovated by incorporating elements of other Indian classical and folk dances into her performances. After India gained Independence, Rao returned and settled in New Delhi, where she established a dance school to teach Kathakali and Bharatanatyam. During this period, she also became a prominent actress in Malayalam-language theater, often writing, directing, and acting in plays based on Malayalam literature. She was particularly known for her performances in comic roles (vidhi vesham). Later, she moved to Bengaluru, where she studied Carnatic music and continued to practice dance. Although she ceased public dance performances in the 1990s, a video of her performing Bharatanatyam at the age of 92 went viral in 2016, reigniting interest in her career. In 2019, her life was chronicled in the documentary film "Oh That's Bhanu," directed by R.V. Ramani, which won the Bala Kailasam Memorial Award that year. Bhanumati Rao passed away on February 12, 2022, at the age of 98. Her legacy includes her contributions to dance, theatre, and her role in promoting Indian classical arts internationally. She was also active in social efforts for women's rights, working with the All India Women's Conference. Awards & Honours: Bala Kailasam Memorial Award (2019), SHRESTA KALA PRACHAARAK.