Guru Mani

🪔 About

Nartanacharya Guru Shri Mani, born Moorkanikara Parameshwara Mani on September 5, 1922, in Trichur (Thrissur), Kerala, was a highly respected figure in Indian classical dance, particularly Bharatanatyam. He moved to Mumbai in the early forties, where he received his Bharatanatyam training from Guru Smt. Karunambal and her husband Shri. Guru Govindraja Pillai. He also trained under Bharata Vidwan Guru Shri Kuppaiah Pillai of the Raja Rajeshwari Bharatnatya Kala Mandir. Guru Mani was a brilliant student, excelling in Sanskrit, English, and Maths, and was awarded a scholarship for his academic excellence. Before dedicating himself fully to dance, he worked as a clerk and librarian at the International Book House and was involved in forming the Chetana Cultural Center in the 1940s-50s, which organized performances for various artists. In 1952, he topped the Bharatanatyam examination by the Government School of Music and Dance of Hyderabad but declined the principal's position to preserve his creative freedom. In 1954, he founded the Kalasadan Institute of Fine Arts in Mumbai, driven by his vision to promote Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Classical Music in an accessible way. He was known for his dedication to maintaining the purity of Bharatanatyam while making it simple for young students. A graceful dancer himself, Guru Mani was also a creative choreographer and astute organizer, held in high esteem by the cultural fraternity. He passed away on June 28, 2006, at the age of 84 in Mumbai, survived by his wife Meenakshi Mani, two sons, and three daughters. His eldest son, Natrajgopal (Raja Sir), continues his legacy at Kalasadan.