Radhika V Pillai

🪔 About

Radhika Pillai, also known as Kalamandalam Radhika, is a highly acclaimed Indian classical dancer, choreographer, research scholar, teacher, writer, and philanthropist. Born in Bangalore, India, she commenced her dance training at the tender age of three under Guru Rajan. Her extensive training includes the traditional Kalamandalam style, which she has been learning since 1996 under the tutelage of the renowned dancer duo Shri Kalamandalam Venkit and Smt Preetha Venkit. She further honed her skills in Kathakali from Muttar Sri. Narayana Panicker and mridhangamvaitharis from Guru Ponniahpillai. Her formative years also saw her receive guidance from Chinnammu Amma, Kalamandalam Sathyabhama, Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair, and the late Kalamandalam Kalyani Kutty Amma, with additional Kathakali training under Kalamandalam Padmanabha Ashan. Radhika Pillai continues to expand her artistic repertoire by exploring the Bharatanatyam artform in the Mysore Bani style under the Upadhye School of dance. As a prolific performer, Radhika Pillai has presented over two thousand performances across India and internationally. She is a distinguished member of the UNESCO International Dance Council and has performed for various high-profile audiences, including WHO and SAARC delegates. Her innovative choreographic works include adaptations of biblical themes, which, despite initial criticism, garnered appreciation when set to the poetical works of various authors. She has also composed and choreographed five cholkettus, three varnams, and numerous padams in different languages. Radhika Pillai is the esteemed founder of the Prashanthi School of Dance. Her significant contributions to Indian classical dance extend to her research, particularly in Mohiniyattom, where she has undertaken extensive studies to reorganize its fundamental steps, jewellery, and costumes from the early 1940s. She has conducted numerous workshops in the US, UK, Europe, Atlanta, and Germany. As an accomplished author, she has contributed articles to the dance and music magazine Shrutilaya, presented a paper on Mohiniyattom at an NCERT seminar, and authored the books "Mohiniyattom-The Lyrical Dance of Kerala" and "Mudra," published by Mathrabhoomi. Her exceptional talent and dedication were recognized with the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Mohiniyattom, making her the first non-resident Keralite to receive this prestigious honor. Awards & Honours: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Mohiniyattom.