Krishnan Nair

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Research for a renowned Indian classical dance figure named 'Krishnan Nair' specifically in Bharatanatyam did not yield a prominent guru or legend. The most renowned classical Indian dancer named Krishnan Nair is Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair (1914–1990), a pioneering Kathakali artist from Kerala, India. He was celebrated for his masterful interpretations of heroic and anti-heroic roles in the Kathakali tradition, which elevated the art form's emotional expressiveness and global recognition. His training began at age 13 under Guru Chandu Panikkar and continued at Kerala Kalamandalam under masters like Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon, Thakazhi Kunju Kurup, and Mani Madhava Chakyar. Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair taught at institutions such as Kerala Kalamandalam, Margi Kathakali Vidyalayam in Thiruvananthapuram, and R.L.V. Institute of Fine Arts in Tripunithura. He was a recipient of the Padma Shri in 1970, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (both central and state levels), and the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship. His wife was Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, a renowned Mohiniyattam exponent, and his daughters Sreedevi Rajan and Kala Vijayan are professionals in Mohiniyattam. The biographical information provided in the prompt, referring to 'Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra' as an Indian playback singer and Carnatic musician, pertains to K. S. Chithra, a different individual and a prominent figure in the music industry, not classical dance.