Smt. Mythili Kalyanasundaram

Born in 1940 in Thanjavur to Smt. Rajalakshmi and Sri Ratnasabapathy, from a family of musical lineage, being the neice of none other than the great Nadaswaram Chakravarthy T.N. Rajarathinam Pillai, Mythili was given in marriage to Guru Kalyanasundaram , grandson of the Abhinaya Panchapakesa Nattuvanar. She spent her childhood listening to the great music concerts held at her uncles house and also at Smt. Kamalambal, the famous dancer of yester years.

Trained in the thanjavur style of dancing , Mythili at the young age of seven years did her arangetram , trained by Pandanallur Meenakshisundaram Pillai and under the watchful eyes of eminent danseuse of that time Smt. Kamalambal, who also conducted the performance. She performed for about eight years after that at various places in and around Thanjavur. Smt. Kamalambal was trained by none other than Kandasamy Nattuvanar, grandfather of Guru K.P. Kittapa Pillai. Her performances were well apreciated by the great gurus of that time as at that young age she used to do Tamara Saksha sabdam and Khamas varnam, with great finese. Among her many perfomances were Sarabhendra Bhopala Kuravanji staged in the Sangeetha Mahal at the Thanjavur art galleryin 1955, and the arangteram and many other performances that were conducted in the grand hall of Guru Ponniah Pillai's house in Thanjavur.

Soon after her marriage was actively involved with Sri Rajarajeswari. Extremely adept at teaching dance , she is one of the senior Directors of the institution, giving constant guidance to the students from her vast experience spanning more than five decades in this field. Her inept understanding of the students, lovingly called Mythili Mami, by one and all, she is the loving mother of the students, constantly taking care of their needs backstage. A constant source of inspiration to her husband , Guru Kalyanasundaram, she is credited for having designed the costumes of all of his major works which, includes the major group presentations and ballets, performed in major cities in India and abroad, in countries like Nepal, China, Singapore, United States of America and Canada.

Presently, Mythili Kalyansundaram is one of the senior directors of the Kala Mandir, imparting her vast knowledge to the disciples of the institution.