Guru Thiruvidamaruthur Kuppiah Kalyanasundaram

🪔 About

Guru Thiruvidamaruthur Kuppiah Kalyanasundaram is a highly renowned senior Bharatanatyam Guru and a torchbearer of the Thanjavur tradition of Bharatanatyam. Born in 1932 in Thiruvidaimarudur, Tamil Nadu, he hails from an eighth-generation Nattuvanar parampara, a lineage of traditional dance teachers. He celebrated his 80th birthday on March 1, 2012, making him approximately 94 years old as of 2026. He made his debut at the age of six in the 1940s at the Sri Kumbeswaran Temple in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. Kalyanasundaram imbibed the art from his father Guru Kuppiah Pillai, his brother Guru Mahalingam Pillai, his brother-in-law Guru Govindraj Pillai, and his sister Karunambal. He also received training in Carnatic music from Vidwan Alathur Panchapakesa Iyer and mridangam from Vidwan Raghunatha Iyer. His grandfather, Guru Panchapakesa Nattuvanar, was an authority on abhinaya and compiled the Tamil treatise 'Abhinaya Navaneetham'. He serves as the Director and principal teacher of the Sri Rajarajeswari Bharatha Natya Kala Mandir in Mumbai, an institution founded in 1945 by Guru AT Govindraj Pillai and Karunambal. Guru Kalyanasundaram is celebrated for his rich choreography, music, and literature in numerous dance productions, including 'Thirukkutrala Kuravanji', 'Sri Andal', 'Skanda Leela', 'Krishna Leela', 'Thyagabrahmanjali', 'Purandara Vandana', 'Jaya Jaya Krishna', and 'Bhakthi Nritya'. He has choreographed with other eminent gurus, such as Pt. Birju Maharaj in 1986. His extensive career includes leading a 10-member dance troupe representing India at the International Arts Festival of China and presenting thematic programs at various international dance festivals across Australia, America, Canada, Europe, Indonesia, Columbia, Mexico, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Nepal. He has trained thousands of students, many of whom have established their own schools globally, continuing the Thanjavur bani. Awards & Honours: Padma Shri (2023), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kalaimamani (1994), Best Teacher and Choreographer Award (2002), Sharangdev Fellowship (1988), Natya Kalanidhi, Natya Selvam (1996), Asthana Vidwan Kanchi Kamakoti Peettam (2003), Sri Shanmukhananda - Dr. M. S. Subbulakshmi Best Teacher Award (2004), Natya Ratna Award (2005), Bharatha Kalai Sudar, Nritya Ratnakara (2010).