Bharati Shivaji

🪔 About

Bharati Shivaji is a highly acclaimed Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and author, renowned for her profound contributions to Mohiniyattam, the graceful dance form of Kerala. Born in 1948 in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, she initially trained in Bharatanatyam under Guru Janakiraman (Vazhuvoor style) and Lalita Shastri (Pandanallur style), and in Odissi under Kelucharan Mohapatra. A pivotal moment in her career came when Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay encouraged her to research Mohiniyattam. She received a research fellowship from Sangeet Natak Akademi and undertook extensive study in Kerala under the guidance of Kavalam Narayana Panicker, a scholar of Kerala's temple arts. Her Mohiniyattam training included tutelage under Radha Marar, Kalamandalam Satyabhama, and Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, often regarded as the 'Mother of Mohiniyattam'. Shivaji moved to New Delhi and, in 1984, founded Kalambalam, which was renamed the Center for Mohiniyattam in 1995. This academy is dedicated to the research, training, and propagation of Mohiniyattam. She is credited with significantly expanding the repertoire and format of Mohiniyattam, incorporating elements from other Kerala art forms like Ottamthullal, Kaikottikali, Thayambaka, and Krishnanattam. Her innovative choreographies include a Mohiniyattam adaptation of Tchaikovsky's 'Swan Lake', created with her daughter Vijayalakshmi. Bharati Shivaji co-authored two seminal books: 'Art of Mohiniyattam' (1986, with Avinash Pasricha) and 'Mohiniyattam' (2003, with Vijayalakshmi), which serve as important reference works on the dance form. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1999), Padma Shri (2004), Sahitya Kala Parishad Samman (1990), Lasya Lakshmi (1988), Nritya Choodamani (1994), Nishagandhi Puraskaram (2017), Kalaratana.