Malati Kannan

🪔 About

Mahati Kannan is a distinguished Bharatanatyam dancer, recognized as a third-generation artist from the illustrious lineage of Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam. Her profound training in Bharatanatyam stems from her revered guru, Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, alongside her mother, Dr. Gayatri Kannan, and her late grandmother, Smt. Uma Sriram, who was a senior-most disciple of Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam. Mahati Kannan has embraced the traditional Gurukulavasam lifestyle, living immersed in an environment of constant artistic learning and discourse. She is celebrated for her versatility in Bharatanrityam, demonstrating in-depth training across various facets of dance, including music, nattuvangam, and scholarly research. Her performances are consistently noted for their exceptional mastery over technique and dexterity in execution. Mahati Kannan is also an invited speaker at numerous conferences, where she provides valuable insights into the extensive work and research of her gurus. She has graced prestigious stages, performing at events such as the Music Academy Virtual Dance Festival in 2022, where she presented pieces like 'Gaja mukha naadhan' and a jathiswaram composed by K. N. Dhandayuthapani Pillai, choreographed by her aunt Padma Subrahmanyam using karana movements of a swan. She also performed for the Krishna Gana Sabha's Pongal Dance Festival, where her Bharatanrityam performance was grounded in tradition, opening with a Pushpanjali and featuring the varnam 'Vanamala shri gopala'. Her recitals are particularly lauded for the thoughtful integration and precision of karanas alongside adavus, reflecting Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam's unique choreographic vision and a Bharathanrityam approach that integrates karana vocabulary with structured adavu patterns. Despite her significant accomplishments and promising career, Mahati Kannan humbly considers herself "still very much a student" under the continued guidance of Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, emphasizing her ongoing dedication to learning and artistic development. She is primarily based in Chennai, India, a prominent hub for Indian classical arts.