Sudharani Raghupathy

🪔 About

Sudharani Raghupathy, born on March 21, 1944, in Pollachi, India, is a distinguished Indian classical Bharatanatyam dancer, guru, and choreographer. She grew up in Bangalore and holds a graduate degree in Philosophy and Sociology from the University of Mysore. Her extensive training in Bharatanatyam was under legendary gurus K.P. Kittappa Pillai, U.S. Krishna Rao, and Mylapore Gowri Ammal. She also received Carnatic music instruction from violin maestro T. Chowdiah and Vidwan Madurai N. Krishnan. In 1964-65, she was the first Indian student at Randolph Macon's Women's College in Virginia, USA, where she majored in World History of Dance, Studio Arts, and the Martha Graham technique in modern dance under Eleanor Struppa, also studying Western music with Elaine St. Vincent. Raghupathy is celebrated as a "Living Legend" and has had a remarkable career spanning over six decades. She has performed for numerous international dignitaries visiting India since 1956, including Bulganin, Krushchev, the Shah of Iran, Chou en Lai, Ho Chi Minh, and gave command performances for Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. A significant highlight was her performance at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Human Rights Day in December 1981, at the invitation of Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim. Her contributions to dance include producing and directing 'Bharatanjali,' the first Bharatanatyam TV serial on Doordarshan in 1981 and 1989. She has choreographed several acclaimed dance dramas such as 'Ramayana,' 'Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum,' and 'Silappadikaram.' She also documented the 'Arayar Sevai' of Srivilliputhur at the behest of Kamaladevi Chattopadyay. In 1970, Sudharani Raghupathy co-founded Sree Bharatalaya in Chennai with K. Soundararaja Iyengar and Vidwan Madurai N. Krishnan, serving as its President and principal dance teacher. The institution is renowned for its holistic approach, integrating dance with music, Sanskrit, Tamil, yoga, and philosophy, aiming to develop cultured individuals. She is the author of the multi-volume "Laghu Bharatam," a comprehensive handbook for Bharatanatyam dance. Raghupathy has also served as Vice-Chairperson of the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, New Delhi (1998-2002), and as a Senior Teaching Associate of Indian Studies at Colgate University, New York. In 2026, she was selected as a Fellow of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, a prestigious national honor. Awards & Honours: Nritya Choodamani (1979), Kalaimamani (1981), Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1984), Natana Sironmani (1985), Natya Ratna (1986), Padma Shri (1988), Natya Kalanidhi (1988), Natya Jyothi (1994), Sapthagiri Sangeetha Vidwanmani (1996), Kalashree (1999), Natya Kala Sikamani (2001), Natya Kala Sarathy (2002), Telugu Academy award, Sri Lalitha Kala Ratna, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna) (2026).