Sri Rajarajeswari Bharatha Natya Kala Mandir one of the premier dance institutions imparting training in classical bharathanatyam

Century’s Old Tradition Leading into next Century

Profile

Natya Kalanidhi Natya Selvam Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Asthana Vidwan Natya Ratna Kalaimamani

GURU KALYANASUNDARAM

Hailing from a family of Nattuvanar parampara, traditional dance teachers, now in its eight generation – Thiruvidaimarudur Kuppiah Kalyanasundaram made his debut at the age of six at the Sri Kumbeswaran Temple(of Maha Maham fame) Kumbakonam- Tamil Nadu, on the auspicious day of Aarudhra Darsanam.

He imbibed the art from his father Guru Kuppiah Pillai, his brother Guru Mahalingam Pillai, his brother-in-law Guru Govindraj Pillai and sister Smt. Karunambal.
His ancestors were honoured in the royal courts of Baroda, Mysore, Ramanathapuram and Thanjavur, - then princely states. Most distinguished among them were Vidwan Venkatakrishna Nattuvanar the Samasthana Vidwan of King Serfoji, and his grand father Vidwan Panchapakesa Nattuvanar , an authority on Abhinaya, is - the author of Abhinaya Navaneetham, in Tamil, based on Abhinaya Darpanam.

A senior guru of Sri Rajarajeswari Bharatha Natya Kala Mandir , he has trained an array of well known dancers. His dance dramas Thirukkutrala Kuravanji( Vasantavalli) Sri Andal, Skanda Leela, Krishna Leela, Charana Paduka, Thyagabrahmanjali, and dance productions- PurandaraVandana, Jaya Jaya Krishna, Pancha Kanya, Jaya Jaya Shankara, Bhakthi Nritya, are well received for their rich tapestry of choreography, music and literature. He was the leader of a 10-member dance troupe representing India at the International Arts Festival of China.

He had presented thematic programmes at the Manifestations of Shiva-World Meet, Philadelphia and also at other International dance festivals in Australia, America, Canada, Europe ,Indonesia, Columbia, Mexico, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, China & Nepal.

In 1986- he had choreographed along with eminent gurus of the other classical dance forms, Pt Birju Maharaj, Late Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra and Guru Vempatti Chinnasatyam a widely acclaimed presentation ‘National Integration through Dance’.

Exclusive compositions of Mahakavi Bharathi( presented at Bharathi’s Centenary at his birthplace Ettayapuram in 1981)and Saint Purandaradasa( presented on his 500th birth anniversary at Delhi in 1984) are notable among the presentations of other composers.

Guru Kalyanasundaram’s students have featured at prestigious dance conferences and festivals in India and abroad. In 1989, he led a 10 - member dance troupe to participate in the First International Arts Festival of China and presented a programme at Singapore to celebrate the centenary of Jawaharlal Nehru.

The latest offerings ‘Mahathmanjali’ an unique production based on the noble ideals of Gandhi and ‘Nandanar’ a moving dance drama of the great devotee of Lord Nataraja presented at Los Angeles have received great admiration. For his outstanding contribution to the art of Bharatha Natyam some of the Awards & titles conferred upon him are:

Natya Kalanidhi- Thyagaraja Sabha, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Kalaimamani –1994, Govt. of Tamil Nadu
Natya Selvam –1996,Muthamizh Peravai - Chennai
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award –Govt. Of India(1999-2000)
Best Teacher and Choreographer Award- Madras Music Academy 2002
Asthana Vidwan Kanchi Kamakoti Peettam -2003
Conferred During the Golden Jubilee Peetarohana Celebrations of His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal of Kanchi Peetam
Sri Shanmukhananda - Dr. M. S. Subbulakshmi Best Teacher Award 2004. Mumbai
Natya Ratna – Sri Shanmukhananda Sabha, New Delhi
Bharatha Rishi – Melattur Bhagawathamela Natya Vidya Sangham, Melattur

AWARDS

For his outstanding contribution to the art of Bharatha Natyam some of the Awards & titles conferred upon him are:

Natya Kalanidhi- Thyagaraja Sabha, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Kalaimamani –1994, Govt. of Tamil Nadu
Natya Selvam –1996,Muthamizh Peravai - Chennai
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award –Govt. Of India(1999-2000)
Best Teacher and Choreographer Award- Madras Music Academy 2002
Asthana Vidwan Kanchi Kamakoti Peettam -2003
Conferred During the Golden Jubilee Peetarohana Celebrations of His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal of Kanchi Peetam
Sri Shanmukhananda - Dr. M. S. Subbulakshmi Best Teacher Award 2004. Mumbai
Natya Ratna – Sri Shanmukhananda Sabha, New Delhi
Bharatha Rishi – Melattur Bhagawathamela Natya Vidya Sangham, Melattur.

Full Length Programmes of Exclusive Compositions of Great Poets

ADI SANKARACHARYA
MAHAKAVI SUBRAMANYA BHARATHI
SAINT PURANDARA DASA
SAINT THYAGARAJA
SRI PAPANASAM SIVAN
SANGEETHA KALANIDHI G.N.BALASUBRAMANIAM

DANCE DRAMAS

VASANTHAVALLI -THIRIKUTTRALA KURAVANJI : based on the 17th century Tamil Classic ( Vani Ganapathy, Meera, & 16 artistes)

SRI ANDAL : based on the immortal Thiruppavai( Viji Prakash, Asha Amarnath & 12 artistes)

SKANDA LEELA : portraying the various divine deeds of Lord Karthikeya ( Vani, Meera, Monisha Patil &10 artistes)

KRISHNA LEELA: based on the divine lyrics of Saint Poets – Periaalwar, Purandara Dasa and other great poets (Lata, Preeti, Gowri, Padmaja, Manisha & 10 Artistes)

CHARANA PADUKA : based on TULSIDAS RAMAYAN , Music by Sangeet Martand Pt. JASRAJ ( Amla Mahadevan , Manisha Lav Kumar, and others)

THYAGABRAHMANJALI : based on the glorious kritis of the great Saint Thyagaraja featuring 20 artists

Nandanaar Charitram : based on the musical opera of the poet Sri Gopalakrishna Bharathi presented in Los angeles ( Viji Prakash, Harikrishna Kalyanasundaram, Mythili Prakash & students of Viji Prakash ) organised by Shakthi School of dance of Viji Prakash

Thematic Presentations

OM SARAVANA BHAVA

Based on the devotional compositions of ancient Tamil Poets
Nakkeerar, Arunagirinathar and also Bharathi &Thyagaraja
on Lord Karthikeya
Solo by Preeti Warrier

JAYA JAYA SANKARA

Based on the compositions of various poets on Adi Sankaracharya
& also important works of Adi Sankara
Solo by Sunitha Pillai

PURANDARA NRITYANJALI & PURANDAROPANISHAD

Based on Exclusive Compositions of Sangeetha Pitamaha Saint Purandara Dasa
Solo by Viji Prakash
performed at 10 major cities in North America & India

THYAGABRAHMAM

Based on Exclusive Compositions of Saint Thyagaraja
Solo by Gowri Rao

JAYA JAYA SANKARA

A Group Presentation performed by 20 dancers
Based on the Divine Works of Adi Sankaracharya

JAYA JAYA KRISHNA

Based on the great works of the Saint Poets of India
Solo by Lata Pada

PANCHA KANYA

Based on the immortal episodes of the Epic Heroines
AHALYA, DRAUPATHI, SITA, TARA & MANDODHARI
Solo by Vani Ganapathy

PURANDARA VANDANA

Based on Exclusive Compositions of Sangeetha Pitamaha Saint Puranadara Dasa

Solo by Lata Pada

SHAKTI

A group presentation
Glorifying the divine powers of Goddess Parashakthi
In her various manifestations
Performed by 15 artistes

Bhakthi Nritya

A group presentation
Based on the classics of Saint Poets of India
Adi Sankara, Mahakavi Kalidas, Thiruvalluvar,
Tulsidas, Sant Tukaram, Meerabai & others
Performed by Pratima Choudhary, Indira Muthanna, Priti Warrier and others

SAMPRADAYA BHARATHAM – 1972 -75

Based on the compositions of Traditional Nattuvanars
Performed by Malavika Sarukkai
In New Delhi, Chennai, Cochin and Mumbai

BHARATHI ANJALI at ETTAYAPURAM

Exclusive programme based on
MAHAKAVI SUBRAMNAYA BHARATHI’S CLASSICS
Presented on his Birth Centenary in 1981
Performed by Vani & Meera

ILAKKIYA BHARATHAM

Based on the ancient Tamil Classics
Thirukkural, Kamba Ramayanam, Silapathikaram besides
Thirupugazh and Bharathi’s devotional songs
Performed by 10 senior artistes

BHARATHI NRITYANJALI -2008

MAHAKAVI SUBRAMNAYA BHARATHI’S 125th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL
held at Bombay Tamil Sangham
Based on the inspiring lyrics of Bharathiyar performed by 12 artistes