Kalamandalam Radhika

🪔 About

Kalamandalam Radhika is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, choreographer, research scholar, teacher, writer, and philanthropist, widely recognized as the "Ambassador of Mohiniyattom". Born in Bangalore to K.K. Nair, a chartered accountant, she began her dance training at the tender age of three under Guru Rajan. Her early education also included learning mridhangam vaitharis from Guru Ponniahpillai to master rhythmic techniques and Kathakali from Muttar Sri. Narayana Panicker. In the late 1960s, she moved to Cheruthuruthy and spent four years at Kalamandalam, where she was mentored by eminent gurus such as Chinnammu Amma, Kalamandalam Sathyabhama, and Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair. Her skills were further refined under the tutelage of the late Kalamandalam Kalyani Kutty Amma and her Kathakali training with Kalamandalam Padmanabha Ashan. Radhika has performed over two thousand times in India and internationally, conducting workshops in various countries including the US, UK, Europe, Atlanta, and Germany. She is a member of the UNESCO International Dance Council. Beyond performance, Radhika is a dedicated research scholar, having conducted extensive research for nine years on Mohiniyattom. Her work led to the systematization of basic adavus (steps) and the revival of costumes and jewelry worn by Mohiniyattom dancers in the 1940s. She is also a pioneer in performing Mohiniyattom in multiple languages and has choreographed biblical themes, which, though initially criticized, were well-received. As an author, she has written numerous articles for 'Shrutilaya' magazine and is the author of books like 'Mohiniyattom-The Lyrical Dance of Kerala' and 'Mudra'. Her philanthropic efforts include establishing the Nrithya Dhara charitable trust to support aged indigent artists. She received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Mohiniyattom in 2005, becoming the first non-resident Keralite to achieve this honor. Awards & Honours: The Asians Paints “Shiromani Puraskar” (1992), Nritya Natak Sangeet O Drishya Kala Akademy award (1993), Prashastika award (1995), Bharat Nirman Talented Ladies award (1997), All India Critics award for Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam (1998), Shatabdir Nari – The woman of the Millennium, Sreshtha (2001), Natya Sreshtha (2003), Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Mohiniyattom (2005), Life Time Achievement Award (2005), KALAPRATHIBHA PURASKARAM (2006), Kelucharan Mahapatra Smriti Purashkar (2007), Kerala Kalamandalam Award for Mohiniattam (2008), Bharatmuni Samman (2008), Shreshta Kala Pracharak Award (2009).