Radhika Nair

🪔 About

Kalamandalam Radhika, an Indian classical dancer, choreographer, research scholar, teacher, writer, and philanthropist, was born in Bangalore to K.K. Nair. She commenced her dance training at the tender age of three under Guru Rajan. Her early education also included Kathakali from Muttar Sri. Narayana Panicker and mridhangamvaitharis from Guru Ponniahpillai. In the late 1960s, she moved to Cheruthuruthy, Kerala, where she underwent four years of intensive training at Kalamandalam. There, she was mentored by Chinnammu Amma, Kalamandalam Sathyabhama, and Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair. Her skills were further honed under Kalamandalam Kalyani Kutty Amma and in Kathakali under Kalamandalam Padmanabha Ashan. Radhika is recognized for her extensive research in Mohiniyattom, which led to the reorganization of its basic steps, traditional jewelry, and costumes from the early 1940s. She has performed over two thousand times across India and internationally, and is a member of the UNESCO International Dance Council. Notably, she was the first non-resident Keralite to receive the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Mohiniyattom. Her choreographic works include biblical themes such as the advent of Christianity in India and the birth of Christ. While initially criticized for performing biblical themes in Mohiniyattam, her adaptations of poetical works by VeerappaMoily, Kuvempu, Fr. Abel, Amruth Someshwar, and St. Chavara were well received. She has also composed and choreographed five cholkettus, three varnams, and numerous padams in various languages. Radhika has conducted workshops in the US, UK, Europe, Atlanta, and Germany. As a writer, she has contributed numerous articles to the dance and music magazine Shrutilaya, presented a paper on 'Dance Education in Schools' for NCERT, and authored the books 'Mohiniyattom-The Lyrical Dance of Kerala' and 'Mudra', both published by Mathrabhoomi. Awards & Honours: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award for Mohiniyattom.