Sandhya Rajan

🪔 About

Sandhya Rajan is a prominent Indian classical dancer specializing in Mohiniyattam, hailing from a distinguished family deeply rooted in Indian classical dance. She is the granddaughter of the legendary Kathakali performer Padmasree Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and the revered 'Mother of Mohiniyattam,' Guru Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma. Sandhya began her training in Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam at the age of four under the tutelage of her grandmother and her mother, Kalasree Sreedevi Rajan. Her aunt, Kala Vijayan, also served as her Bharatanatyam guru. She received specialized training in Kathakali, particularly in 'Mukhajabhinaya' and 'Mudra,' from her grandfather. Further diversifying her artistic skills, Sandhya trained in Kuchipudi under Guru Kalamandalam Mohana Thulasi and gained proficiency in playing the veena from Smt. Chithra Subrahmanian. She holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Mohiniyattam from R.L.V. College of Music and Fine Arts, Thripunithura, where she also served as a lecturer in Mohiniyattam from 2008 to 2012. Throughout her career, Sandhya Rajan has performed extensively at various prestigious venues and festivals. Her performances include significant temple festivals such as the 'Ashtami' Festival at Vaikom Mahadeva Temple and the Shivarathri Dance Festival at The Brihadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur. She has also graced dance festivals like the Soorya Festival and Nishagandhi Festival. Notable performances include the 'Triveni Sangamam' dance festival organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in New Delhi in 1990, and a performance as part of the panel of Mohiniyattam dancers for the Kendra Sangeetha Nataka Akademy in Thiruvananthapuram in 1993. She has choreographed over 50 performances in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam and has been teaching Mohiniyattam since the age of 15. Sandhya Rajan leads the Nrithyakshethra Dance School, an institution founded by her mother, Sreedevi Rajan, in 2000. Sandhya has been an integral part of the institution since its inception and has nurtured it to new heights. Under her guidance, Nrithyakshethra has trained over 1000 students. Awards & Honours: 12th Kalasagar Awards for exemplary contribution to Mohiniyattam (2021), NATYA KALA PRATHIBHA AWARD (2025).