Aparna Nangiar

🪔 About

Aparna Nangiar is a distinguished Indian classical dancer specializing in Koodiyattam and its solo female counterpart, Nangiarkoothu. Born in 1984 into the illustrious Ammannur family, renowned for its Koodiyattam practitioners in Kerala, she began her rigorous training in the art form at the tender age of seven. Her foundational education took place at the Ammannur Chachu Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam in Irinjalakuda, Thrissur district. She received tutelage from eminent gurus including her father, Ammannur Kuttan Chakyar, the Nangiarkoothu exponent Usha Nangiar, and the legendary Padma Bhushan Ammannur Madhava Chakyar. Nangiar holds an M.Phil and a PhD in Sanskrit, emphasizing the critical role of language proficiency in Koodiyattam due to its reliance on dialogue and vocal acting (vachikabhinaya). She made her debut performance (arangetram) at the age of nine at the Vadakkumnathan koothambalam. Beyond her performance career, Aparna Nangiar serves as an assistant professor of Sanskrit at Sree Sankara College in Kalady, where she continues to teach and perform Koodiyattam. Her career is marked by a commitment to preserving and popularizing Koodiyattam, particularly the vanishing gurukulam training system. She is celebrated for her performances of Nangiarkoothu, drawing stories from the Sree Krishna Charitam, and has notably revived and performed "Dasamam Koothu," a rare ritualistic variant of Nangiarkoothu, in 2014 and again in 2021, a performance said to have been last staged centuries ago. Nangiar has also ventured into choreography, creating new plays such as Navarasa. She has performed extensively both within India and internationally, showcasing Koodiyattam and Nangiarkoothu in countries like South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan. Her contributions to the art form were recognized with the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak Akademi for 2023. Awards & Honours: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2023).