Guru Chandrasekharan

🪔 About

Guru Chandrasekharan (1916–1998) was a distinguished Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and instructor of Kathakali. Born in Trivandrum, India, in 1916, he was the son of N.K. Nair (Kunju Krishna Kurup), a notable artist and oil painter. Chandrasekharan began his dance training at university, secretly studying Kathakali under Guru Gopinath. He was a student at the 'Sri Chithrodaya Nartha Kalalayam' in Poojappura, Travancore, a dance school established by the government under Guru Gopinath's royal patronage. He further honed his Kathakali skills under Nedumudi Narayana Kurup, another artist patronized by the Travancore Royal Palace. Chandrasekharan formed his own troupe and performed extensively in major Indian cities. He was a pioneer in incorporating contemporary social themes into classical dance productions, directing and choreographing several such works. In 1943, he led his troupe on a government-invited tour to Alexandria (Egypt), the Middle East, and Italy to entertain military personnel during World War II. In the late 1940s, he created "Voice of Travancore," a political dance depicting the autocratic rule of Dewan Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer and the people's resistance. In 1948, he produced "Polinja Deepam" (The Light That Died), a composition reflecting on the demise of Mahatma Gandhi. From 1947 to 1950, Guru Chandrasekharan served as a Professor of Classical Dance, specializing in Kathakali, at Visva Bharati University (Santiniketan). During this period, he choreographed and performed Rabindranath Tagore's famous dance dramas, including 'Chitrangada' and 'Chandalika,' in cities like New Delhi and Calcutta. His time at Visva Bharati also exposed him to various dance forms from regions such as Kandi, Bali, and Burma. He held positions as a member of the Kerala University Senate, the Board of Directors at the Kerala Kalamandalam Governing body, an Advisory Committee member for the Malayalam Encyclopedia, and a visiting dance professor at Swathi Thirunal College of Music. He continued his artistic endeavors until 1980. He married Mohanavalli Amma. Awards & Honours: Award by Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy (1976), Guru (title).