Nandini Ramani

🪔 About

Nandini Ramani, born on November 18, 1950, in Chennai, India, is a distinguished Bharatanatyam exponent, teacher, scholar, and critic. She is the daughter of the renowned Sanskrit scholar and musicologist, Dr. V. Raghavan. Ramani began her Bharatanatyam training at the tender age of five in 1955, under the tutelage of the legendary T. Balasaraswati at the Madras Music Academy. Her comprehensive dance education also included learning nritta from Nattuvanar K. Ganesan and abhinaya from Balasaraswati for over 25 years. She further honed her musical abilities, studying Carnatic music under B. Krishnamurthy and T. Muktha. Ramani made her arangetram (debut performance) in 1970. Throughout her extensive career, Nandini Ramani has been a torchbearer of the Balasaraswati bani (style), known for its emphasis on musicality, rhythmic purity, and subtle expressiveness. She taught Bharatanatyam at the Bala Saraswati School of Bharatanatyam under the Madras Music Academy from 1973 to 1978 and established her own dance school in the 1970s, training numerous students both in India and internationally. Her multifaceted contributions extend beyond performance and pedagogy; she is also a Sanskrit drama actress and director, an art critic, writer, publisher, columnist, and TV presenter. Ramani has held influential positions, including serving on the Executive Board of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, as a member of the General Council of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), and as the secretary of the Madras Music Academy. She continues her father's legacy by producing and directing Sanskrit plays under the banner of 'Sanskrit Ranga'. Her artistic lineage is carried forward by her daughter, Sushama Ranganathan, and granddaughter, Sukeerti. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2012), Natya Padmam, Kartik Rajagopal Memorial Award (2023), Natya Kala Sikhamani (2013), Kalaimamani Award (2019), Kala Seva Bharathi Award (2004), Multi Cultural Award (Canadian Government).