Jayanthi Ramachandra

🪔 About

Jayanthi Ramachandra is a renowned Bharatanatyam exponent, teacher, and institution head from Coimbatore, India. Born to G. K. Rajagopal and Mani Rajagopal, she is also the granddaughter of G. Kuppuswamy Naidu, the visionary founder of Lakshmi Mills in Coimbatore. Her passion for dance began at a very young age, starting her training at three and giving her first performance at the age of five. Her early dance teachers included Palaniappan, Palaniswamy, and Jaishankar. Ramachandra received extensive training from legendary gurus of Bharatanatyam. She was a disciple of Vazhuvoor Ramaiyah Pillai and continued her learning under his son, Vazhuvoor Samraj, who she credits with making her a well-known classical dancer. She also had the opportunity to train under the tutelage of the esteemed T. Balasaraswathi. She performed her arangetram and later gave a significant performance at the Central Jail Auditorium under the guidance of Vazhuvoor Samraj. In 1986, she married Lakshmi Ramachandra. Jayanthi Ramachandra founded the Shri Charan Academy of Fine Arts (SCAFA), also known as Shreecharan Academy of Fine Arts, in Coimbatore in 2002, where she imparts the Vazhuvoor bani (style) of Bharatanatyam. She has trained hundreds of students, including her daughter Amrutha and her first formal student, Priya. Vazhuvoor Samraj's son, Palaniappan, also became involved with her institution. Her contributions to the arts have been recognized with the prestigious Kalaimamani award. Beyond dance, she is also a textile expert and serves as the managing director of VTX Industries Limited and Seshraj Apparels Private Limited. Awards & Honours: Kalaimamani.