Kalamandalam Venkitt

🪔 About

Kalamandalam Venkitt, born Venkataraman Venkit on July 7, 1958, was a distinguished Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and educator, renowned for his expertise in both Kathakali and Bharatanatyam. His parents were Late Rama Iyer and Lakshmi Ammal. Inspired by his elder sister, Kalamandalam Padmini, a prominent Mohiniyattam dancer and former Principal of Kerala Kalamandalam, Venkitt embarked on his dance journey. Venkitt commenced his formal training in Kathakali at Kerala Kalamandalam in 1971, where he studied under esteemed gurus such as Kalamandalam Vijayan, Kalamandalam Raman Kutty Nair, and Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair. He became an exponent of "Strivesham," specializing in female roles and the role of Lord Krishna. In 1977, he moved to Kolkata at the invitation of Kalamandalam Govindan Kutty to perform Kathakali. Subsequently, he pursued Bharatanatyam seriously under the tutelage of Guru Thankamani Kutty, developing into a captivating performer. Throughout his career, Kalamandalam Venkitt toured extensively across India and internationally, performing in countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Turkey, and Europe. He participated in significant events such as the Kerala Kalamandalam Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the Chidambaram Natyanjali Festival, and the Bharatanatyam Festival in Bombay in 1991. He was recognized as a top-graded artist by Doordarshan, with his programs frequently telecast on national television, and he also performed for the BBC in London. As a choreographer, Venkitt created numerous Bharatanatyam pieces and was lauded for his experimental presentations of Rabindra Sangeet in South Indian classical dance styles. He also choreographed notable Kathakali dance-dramas, including Bhasmasura Mohini, Gitopadesham, and Karna-Kunti Samvad. His "Putana Moksham" dance-drama was particularly acclaimed and performed globally. In 1986, he joined Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata as a Lecturer in Kathakali, later becoming the Head of the Dance Department. In 1995, he founded Uma Kalalayam (also referred to as Uma Memorial Kalalayam, founded in 1997), an institution dedicated to promoting, popularizing, performing, and imparting training in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, and Kathakali, named in memory of his late first wife, Uma Venkitt. He served as its Honorary Principal. His second wife, Preetha Venkitt, a dancer and disciple of Pushpa Shankar and Thankamani Kutty, also served as a Founder Director of Uma Memorial Kalalayam. Kalamandalam Venkitt passed away on June 30, 2025, due to cirrhosis of the liver. Awards & Honours: Pravasi Kalasri Award, Kala Pratibha Puraskar, Rashratna Puraskar, Natyasri award, Kala Tejaswih Award (2016), Best documentary award for "Taadiyarangu" (2023).