Shanta Dhananjayan Biography 
Shanta Dhananjayan and Vannadil Pudiyaveettil Dhananjayan – the real life couple is widely regarded as one of the leading dancing couples of south Indian art forms. Shanta Dhananjayan was born to a Malayali couple in Malaysia while her husband, Vannadil Pudiyaveettil Dhananjayan, shortly called V P Dhananjayan is a native of Payyanur, Kannur District. The couple is known by the title – Dhananjayans and they started their own dance school Bharata Kalanjali in 1968 in Adyar, Chennai. The couple is a recipient of several awards and recognitions including Padma Bhushan by Government of India in 2009, Kalaimamani Award by Tamil Nadu Government in 1990, "Nrityavillas" Award by Haridas Sangeet Sammelan Sursingar Sansad Mumbai in 1984 and many other honours. Her husband is also known as a prolific writer who handles different subjects.
Shanta Dhananjayan was born on 12 August 1943 in Malaysia of Malayali parents. A child prodigy, her talents were identified by her parents at the age of 3. As they were convinced that she would become a dancer, they sent her to Kalakshetra in 1952 at the age of 8 to take formal training in classical dance forms. She learnt Bharatanatyam, Kathakali and Carnatic music and earned PG diploma with distinction. She was active in the troupe as a performer from 1955–1968. The couple got married at Guruvayur temple in 1966 and had two children. Their younger son, Satyajit is an accomplished automobile photographer and dancer settled in Chennai.
After leaving Kalakshetra in the late 1960s, the couple started their own dance school Bharata Kalanjali in 1968 in Adyar, and very soon earned success and fame as dancing couple. They also taught numerous children. The couple has established an academy of arts at Payyanur, Dhananjayan’s home town. There love story is nothing short of a film story. For Dhananjayan, it was love at first sight as she was the first girl he met at Kalashetra. But Shanta was a dedicated student then, fully concentrated in her studies. Yet she started secretly loving him at the age of 12 and decided to make him her life partner. Dhananjayan proposed Shanta when she was 18. But she left Malaysia for higher studies and let him know her mind only 4 years later when she returned.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 20, 2016
