Kamala Laxman

🪔 About

Kamala Laxman, born Kamala Lakshminarayan on June 16, 1934, in Mayuram (now Mayiladuthurai), Tamil Nadu, India, is an acclaimed Indian classical dancer, actress, choreographer, and guru, widely recognized as a pioneering exponent of Bharatanatyam in the Vazhuvoor style. Her illustrious career spans over eight decades, beginning as a child prodigy. Kamala commenced her dance training at age three and a half or five in Kathak under gurus like Lachhu Maharaj in Bombay. Following her family's relocation to South India during World War II, she transitioned to Bharatanatyam, making her arangetram debut in 1941 under Kattumannarkovil Muthukumarappa Pillai. She subsequently became the prime disciple of Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai, meticulously mastering the Vazhuvoor bani, known for its emphasis on expressive abhinaya and dynamic nritta. From 1941 to 1979, Kamala performed annually at the prestigious Madras Music Academy, establishing herself as a leading figure in Bharatanatyam during its transition from temple traditions to global stages. Initially known as Baby Kamala for her early film appearances, she gained widespread fame as Kumari Kamala, captivating audiences with her technical precision, stamina, and expressive artistry. She also had a significant film career, appearing in over 100 Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi films from the late 1930s to the 1960s, where her integrated dance sequences played a crucial role in popularizing classical forms among mass audiences. Her innovative choreography included full-length ballets such as “Nauka Charitram” in 1963. Kamala performed for numerous world dignitaries, including Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959. In the late 1970s or early 1980s, Kamala relocated to the United States, settling in New York City, specifically Long Island. There, she founded the Sri Bharatha Kamalalaya School of Dance, dedicated to preserving and propagating the Vazhuvoor tradition. She continues to teach and inspire generations of students into her 90s, maintaining an influential presence in classical Indian dance from her base in the US. Her teaching philosophy emphasized creative freedom and a non-critical approach towards other dancers. Kamala was married to cartoonist R. K. Laxman (divorced 1960) and later to T. V. Lakshminarayanan, with whom she had a son, Jainand Narayan. Awards & Honours: Kalasikhamani award of Tamil Nadu State (1967), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1968), Padma Bhushan (1970), Branta Professorship by Colgate University (1975), E. Krishna Iyer Medal instituted by the Sruti Foundation (1989), Nritya Choodamani by Sree Krishna Gana Sabha (1989), Sangeeta Ratnakara by Bhairavi Fine Arts at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana (1993), Platinum Jubilee Award from Chennai's Music Academy (2002), Lifetime Achievement Award from the Carnatic Music Association of North America (2004), Natya Padmam from Chennai's Brahma Gana Sabha (2007), National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts (2010).