Malavika Sarukkai Biography 
Malavika Sarukkai is an accomplished Bharatnatyam performer and teacher from Tamil Nadu, who is a recipient of Kalaimamani awards from Tamil Nadu state government. India's one of the finest Bharat Natyam dancers at present she is also a recipient of Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour, apart from Sangeet Natak Akademi Award – 2000, Mrinalini Sarabhai Award, Nrityachoodamani title, Sanskriti award, Haridas Sammelan award etc. She is one among those artists who has been featured in many documentaries. Samarpanam – is a documentary made by Government of India on the professional career of this renowned artist. This artist is known for her innovative choreographed steps.
A resident of Tamil Nadu, she was born in the year 1959. She started formal learning in Bharatnatyam at the age of 7, under the guidance of Kalyanasundaram Pillai, followed by Rajaratnam. She also learned Abhinaya under Kalanidhi Narayanan and Odissi under renowned gurus, Kelucharan Mohapatra and Ramani Ranjan Jena. Her first stage performance was at the age of 12 at Mumbai. Since then she is fully active with her cultural programs, both in India and abroad, aside her disciples. She loves to call her work an experience, rather than a performance.
She has also choreographed several productions of contemporary dance form with a strong Indian idiom. She was featured in BBC/WNET’s documentary, Dancing and also, The Unseen Sequence – Exploring Bharatanatyam Through the Art of Malavika Sarukkai. Her dance is described as intense, extraordinary and luminous, and has strong traits that help her to distinguish from other dancers. She has been a hallmark dancer and choreographer for more than three decades which earned her numerous awards and accolades.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 19, 2016
