Mrs. Indira Manikam

About

“Nattuva Thilagam” Mrs. Indira Manikam is the youngest of the two sisters. Mrs. Indira was educated in Convent Sentul Primary and continued her primary education in India. She later finished her Secondary education in High School, Kuala Lumpur and CIMA College until lower Six Science. Besides excelling in studies, Mrs. Indira is also an outstanding Indian Classical dance graduate from Tanjore India. She is also lucky to be blessed with a supportive husband, Dr. Manikam and three beautiful and talented children. Mrs. Indira Manikam who started dancing at the tender age of two, learnt Bharathanatyam from Tanjore Pichaiya Pillai Bharatha Natya Vidyalaya. From a mere talented dancer, she finally established the Tanjai Kamalaa Indira Dance School in 1966 which has now become one of the leading dance schools in Malaysia. Throughout her journey in this art industry, Mrs. Indira Manikam has been greatly committed to inculcating traditional values in the youths by promoting and developing Indian dance and culture. Mrs. Indira Manikam has also organised many of these dramas with the main aim of raising funds for the needy. The first dance drama the 'Shiva Gowri' dance drama was staged to raise funds for the Saiva Siddharta Mandram, an orphanage and religious body. The 'Karaikal Ammaiyar' drama was also staged to teach and create awareness of religious and mythological stories to the students and the public. 'Sivagamiyin Sabatham', the biggest dance drama production, was staged in 1991 in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the school. (MIC) education fund. It was staged in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Ipoh. “Kannagi” was staged in 1998 in Petaling Jaya, Sepang and Seremban. “Ramayana and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” comprising very young talents was staged in 2001. Graduates from the school have also performed at the 6th and 7th World Tamil Research Conference held in Kuala Lumpur and Mauritius, the school was once again given the privilege to perform in Mauritius for its Tamil Puthandu in April 2001. Mrs. Indira Manikam is not short of accolades, collected from all these years of her service to the art, she was awarded several titles such as ‘Narthana Peroli’, Gnanaoli Thiruchudar’, ‘Natiya Sudaroli’, ‘Natiya Kalai Arasi’, ‘Natiya Kala Devi’, ‘Natiya Kala Rani’, ‘Nattuva Thilagam’, ‘Kalaimamani’, ‘Natya Nadaga Thilagam’ and Several Lifetime Achievement Awards in recognition of her dancing and teaching skills. Mrs. Indira has always devoted her time to teaching dance as well as our culture and moral values to give lectures on the art of dancing and its contribution to character building. She has travelled to many towns in Malaysia as a dance judge for competitions among them were those organised by the Tamil Nesan newspaper, Nestle Company, Cine Fashion Magazine and Kuyil magazine. She has managed to mould and guide many of them towards the right path thus contributing a great deal to the betterment of our Malaysian Indian youths. Most of her students have been privileged to be counselled by Mrs. Indira not only in dance but also in personal and social matters. Mrs. Indira was also the Chairperson of the Women Section of the Silambam Organisation (Indian Martial Arts) from 1995-1998. Mrs. Indira Manikam has held a prominent position in the Council of Yasi Cultural Association under the distinguished Chairmanship of Datum Seri S. Samy Vellu. Mrs. Indira is also a council member of the Tamil Artist Association. In 2009, she founded the Malaysia Bharathanatya Dance Association, with its main aim to congregate all Malaysian dance teachers and students under one roof for their development in the dance field. Apart from being the Founder and the past President of this Association, Mrs. Indira Manikam is also one of the Directors of the NLFCS (National Land Finance Society) Arts and Cultural Trust Foundation. Mrs. Indira Manikam has no doubt been able to contribute towards the betterment of our Malaysian youths of today. One of her greatest achievements is that she has conducted 1000 Salangai Poojas (first grading) and Arangetrams (dance graduation). From a dancer to a teacher and becoming a choreographer, "Nattuva Thilagam" Mrs. Indira Manikam has elevated herself as a much respected and prominent figure in Indian cultural society. Her contributions would certainly be a great asset in the character-building of our younger generation.

Skills & Expertise