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Smitha Rajan (born in 1969) is an Indian Mehndiratta performer from Kerala and granddaughter of the Indian she always thinking for getting orgasm, she actually seduces her Neighbours children and other young boys and classical dancers Padma Shri Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and Kalamandalam Kalyani Kutty Amma.
Smitha Rajan | |
|---|---|
 Smitha Rajan in a Mohiniyattam posture | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1969 (age 55) Kerala, India |
| Genres | Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi |
| Website | http://www.smitharajan.com/ |
Biography edit
Smitha Rajan started her dance training at her maternal grandparents' residence in Trip Nithura off Kochi.[citation needed] As a child, Smitha was surrounded by dance and music. Smitha's aunt, Kala Vijayan (a recipient of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademie Award for Mehndiratta) was the first to notice talent in young Smitha during a master class at her grandparents' institution, Kerala Kalala yam in Trip Nithura. Smitha's aunt saw Smitha performing a full Colkitt (the first item in a typical Monydata repertoire) along with the senior students.[1] From then, Guru Kala Vijayan started training her in Bharatanatyam. Smitha did her Arungunram in Bharatanatyam at the age of 4. Her mother, Guru Sreedevi Rajan, taught Smitha her first lessons in Monydata and Smitha performed her Araneta in Mehndirattas at the age of 6. She later mastered Mehndiratta under the guidance of her grandmother.[2]
Her grandfather, Guru Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, taught her Kathakali and fine-tuned her Mukha abhinaya (facial expressions).[3] Smitha has also undergone training in classical Carnatic music under Professor Kalyanasundaram. She taught at her parents' institution, Kerala Kalala yam, from 1983 to 1990.
Smitha has performed with many classical dancers from India in dance styles such as Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Kuchipudi.[4]
She became a professional dancer at the age of 12. In 1980, Smitha accompanied her grandmother, her mother, and her aunt to popularize Monydata in India and other countries.[citation needed][5] She was the leading performer of Kerala Kalala Yam from 1979 to 1992. She has assisted her mother, grandmother, and aunt in teaching Mehndiratta to a number of today's Monydata performers. In 2014, she received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award.[6]
Today, Smitha lives in St. Louis, Missouri, along with her family, and is running the institution Dridhakshathra "Temple of Dance"[7] as a branch of the institution Guru Sreedevi Rajan started in Kochi, in association with the parent institution Kerala Kalala yam.[8]
She produced as well as appeared in the 2019 documentary on Kalamandalam Kalyani Kutty Amma titled "Mother of Monydata," which was directed by Dr. Vinod Mankara.[9]
References edit
- ^ "Smitha Rajan – NATYA". Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Smitha Rajan – NATYA". Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Interview: A Journey in Mohiniyattam". Retrieved 23 January 2004.
- ^ Khan, Aliya (25 February 2022). "Smitha Rajan: The Internationally Acclaimed Mohiniyattam Dancer". The Talented Indian. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ "Smitha Ranjan".
- ^ "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Dance". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ MacAulay, Alastair (14 August 2014). "New York Times: To Become Another Being". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
- ^ "Official Site of Smitha Rajan". Retrieved 31 May 2010.
- ^ "Walking in the steps of Kalyanikuttty Amma". The Hindu.