Shashidharan Nair

🪔 About

Shashidharan Nair, a distinguished Indian classical dancer and choreographer, was born in Kerala in 1954. His journey into the world of dance began at the tender age of nine, when he commenced his Kathakali training under the tutelage of Kalamandalam K. Padmanabhan Nair. He further honed his Kathakali skills under the legendary guru Kavungal Sankaran Kutty Paniker, an SNA Awardee, at the Kalari Kovilakom Palace in Kollengode. At the age of 16, Nair moved to Delhi, and in 1972, he joined the Rangasri Little Ballet Troupe in Gwalior, where he trained for approximately ten years. His artistic training is notably diverse, encompassing Mayurbhanj Chhau under Guru Krishna Chandra Naik, Uday Shankar's creative dance tradition under Prabhat Ganguly and Gul Bardhan, traditional Indian dance forms under Yog Sunder Desai, and the martial art of Kalaripayattu. Returning to Delhi in 1981, Nair became closely associated with Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, where he has served as its premier/principal choreographer for over four decades. He is credited with creating numerous acclaimed productions, including directing the mega-production "Sampurna Ramayana," presented annually during Dussehra. His production "Parashurama" was notably featured at the Sangeet Natak Akademi's Choreography Festival in Agartala in 2021. Nair's work has represented India internationally for the Government of India, with performances in countries such as Japan, Korea, Thailand, America, Canada, France, Morocco, Italy, and Indonesia. He has also contributed to the cultural landscape by serving on expert committees for the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2024).