Kalamandalam Radhika is an Indian classical dancer, choreographer, research scholar, teacher, writer and philanthropist. She was the first non-resident Keralite to win the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Mohiniyattom. She learnt Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali and other dance forms.

Kalamandalam Radhika
Kalamandalam Radhika
Born
Occupation(s)Dancer, choreographer and stage performer

Early years and education

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Kalamandalam Radhika was born in Bangalore to K.K Nair, a chartered accountant. She started learning dancing at the age of three under Guru Rajan, and later learnt Kathakali from Muttar Sri. Narayana Panicker and mridhangamvaitharis from Guru Ponniahpillai. In the late 1960s, she moved to Cheruthuruthy and stayed at the Kalamandalam for four years. Under the wings of Chinnammu Amma, Kalamandalam Sathyabhama and Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair she was moulded into a skilled performer. Her tutelage under the late Kalamandalam Kalyani Kutty Amma and her training under Kalamandalam Padmanabha Ashan in Kathakali honed her skills.[1]

Dancer and choreographer

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She has conducted more than two thousand performances in India and abroad at national and international levels. She is a member of the UNESCO International Dance Council, and has conducted her performances for WHO delegates, SAARC delegates, diplomats, Soviet representatives, and others.[2] To explore the depths of Mohiniyattom, she has undertaken extensive research, and re-organized the basic steps, jewellery and costumes worn by Mohiniyattom dancers of the early 1940s.[3][4] She has executed and choreographed biblical themes including the advent of Christianity in India, and the birth of Christ.

Radhika has conducted workshops in US, UK, Europe, Atlanta, and Germany. She has also choreographed and danced for Behold Thy Mother, a biblical film directed by an Italian priest Fr.Gerard. She has composed and choreographed five cholkettus, three varnams and innumerable padams in different languages. She was criticized for performing biblical themes in Mohiniattam, but the poetical works of VeerappaMoily, Kuvempu, Fr. Abel, Amruth Someshwar and St. Chavara as adapted by Radhika were well received.[5]

Author

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Radhika has written numerous articles for the dance and music magazine Shrutilaya and has submitted a paper on Mohiniyattom at a seminar organized by the NCERT on the subject of ‘Dance Education in Schools'. She has also written an article about the Devadasi system of Kerala for the weekly Indu , published from Houston, USA, and is the author of the books 'Mohiniyattom-The Lyrical Dance of Kerala´ and ‘Mudra’ published by Mathrabhoomi.[6][7]

Appearances

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Television
Year Film Role Channel Language Notes
2023 Slave Market[8] Hanima MBC Group English-Arabic International TV Series
2019–2021 Sumangali Bhava Muthassi Zee Keralam Malayalam Serial
2018 Straight Line Herself Kaumudy TV Malayalam
2018 Aa Yathrayil Herself Safari TV Malayalam
2018 Charutha Herself Kerala Vision Malayalam
2016-2017 Manjal Prasadam Nagamadathamma Flowers TV Malayalam Serial
2011-2012 Kadhayile Rajakumari Abhi's Mother Mazhavil Manorama Malayalam Serial
2006 Shakunam Nun DD Malayalam Malayalam Telefilm
Film
Year Film Role language
2023 Valatty Owner of Bruno Malayalam
2022 Innale Vare Ramaniyamma Malayalam
2018 Marunnu (short) Umma Malayalam
2014 Namma Gramam Narayani Tamil
2013 Cleopatra Inmate Malayalam
2012 Gramam Narayani Malayalam
2012 Chapters Lady at hospital Malayalam
2012 Ordinary Jose's mother Malayalam
2011 Veeraputhran Vayattati Malayalam
2010 Kadha Thudarunnu Principal Malayalam
2010 Janaki Santha Cheriyamma Malayalam
2009 Ritu Sarath's mother Malayalam
2008 Innathe Chintha Vishayam Noushad's Aunt Malayalam
2008 De Ingottu Nokkiye Politician Malayalam
2007 Vinodayathra Doctor Malayalam
2007 Nivedyam Ramavarma Thampuran's sister Malayalam
2006 Rasathanthram Nun Malayalam
2005 Achuvinte Amma Moothumma's relative Malayalam
1982 Kilukilukkam Dance teacher Malayalam
Endorsement
  • Oxygen - The Digital Shop Advertisement
  • Pankajakasturi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Entertainment Thiruvananthapuram / Personality : Dancer and philanthropist". The Hindu. 1 April 2005. Retrieved 17 November 2016.[dead link]
  2. ^ "Kerala Interviews,Interview of the week". Kerala.com. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Kalamandalam Radhika is one of the finest exponents of Mohiniattam". Blackboard.lincoln.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Two decades in Art Journalism". GS Paul. 17 March 2000. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Home". Thecmsindia.org. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  6. ^ Radhika, Kalamandalam (1 January 2004). Mohiniattam: The Lyrical Dance of Kerala. Mathrubhumi Books. ISBN 9788182640306 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Review - Atlanta hosts the 'Ambassador of Mohiniattom' by Arun P Madangarli". Narthaki.com. 6 September 2003. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Kalamandalam Radhika in International web series". Madhyamam.