Smitha Rajan

🪔 About

Smitha Rajan, born in 1969 in Kerala, India, is a distinguished Indian classical dancer specializing in Mohiniyattam, with proficiency also in Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and Kuchipudi. She represents the third generation of a renowned dance lineage, being the granddaughter of Padma Shri Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, a Kathakali maestro, and Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, widely revered as the "mother of Mohiniyattam" for her pivotal role in reviving the art form. Her mother, Guru Sreedevi Rajan, is a noted Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher, and her aunt, Guru Kala Vijayan, is also an acclaimed Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam exponent. Rajan's early training began at her family's Kerala Kalalayam Gurukula in Tripunithura, Kerala, an environment deeply immersed in classical arts. She commenced Bharatanatyam training at age four under her aunt, Guru Kala Vijayan, performing her Arangetram before turning five. Her initial Mohiniyattam lessons were from her mother, Guru Sreedevi Rajan, leading to her Mohiniyattam Arangetram at age six. She subsequently mastered Mohiniyattam under the direct guidance of her grandmother, Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma. Her grandfather, Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, imparted Kathakali techniques, specifically refining her abhinaya (facial expressions) and mudras (hand gestures), which enhanced her interpretive depth in Mohiniyattam. Additionally, she underwent over seven years of Carnatic music training under Professor Kalyanasundaram, bolstering her vocal and thematic proficiency. Smitha Rajan became a professional dancer at the age of twelve and was a leading performer at Kerala Kalalayam from 1979 to 1992. She assisted her grandmother, mother, and aunt in teaching Mohiniyattam during this period and also taught at Kerala Kalalayam from 1983 to 1990. She has performed extensively across India and internationally for over four decades, completing more than 1,000 performances by her thirties. Her performances are acclaimed for their spiritual intensity and adherence to the puritanical traditions of Mohiniyattam. Since relocating to the United States, Smitha Rajan serves as the artistic director of Nrithyakshetra ("Temple of Dance") in St. Louis, Missouri, an institution she founded in 1999. Nrithyakshetra is an extension of her mother's school in Kerala and the family's gurukula tradition, offering training in Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, and Kuchipudi to students globally, including through virtual programs. She continues to promote Mohiniyattam at major festivals and has given lecture demonstrations at institutions such as Kalakshetra, Kalamandalam, and Nrithyagram. In 2019, she produced the documentary film "Mother of Mohiniyattam" as a tribute to her grandmother. Her choreographed productions include "Krishnaayam," "Stree Shakthi," "Jhansi Rani Saptham," and "Karuna." Smitha Rajan was honored with the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 2014 for her significant contributions to Mohiniyattam. She also received a senior fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for her research on integrating Malayalam literature into Mohiniyattam. Awards & Honours: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (2014), Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.