Sunanda Nair Biography 
Sunanda Nair is a leading exponent of Mohiniyattam from Kerala. Sunanda is the disciple of noted Kanak Rele, who played a significant role in the revival and popularisation of this classical dance style of Kerala throughout India and abroad. She was born in Mumbai to Malayali parents. She is also known as a choreographer who has done dance direction works for several Bharatnatyam and Mohiniyattam performances. She is the first student to post graduation degree in Mohini Attam from Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalay, University of Mumbai. She is the Founder Director of Srutilaya Institute of Fine Arts.
Sunanda started initial training in Bharatnatyam at the age of 6. She studied from leading gurus of this art form like Kalaimamani Kadirvelu, Kalaimamani Mahalingam Pillai, Guru T.V.Sounderajan, Shri Dipak Majumdar and Jayashree Nair. Now she is training under Tejiswini Rao in Kattumanar Muthukumar Pillai's bani. Apart from Mohiniyattam and Bharatnatyam, she has also learnt Kathakali. She learnt Kathakali from Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Warrier and now also her training is going one. She also performs live in female Kathakali characters. She is the first student to become a post graduate in Mohiniyattom from University of Mumbai. She is also the Founder Director of Srutilaya Institute of Fine Arts, which teaches Mohinyattam and Bharatnatyam.
Flow of the Ganges, Dashavtar, Ramayana, Kumara Sambhavam, Vasanta and Parvati Kalyanam are among her outstanding choreographed art pieces of Mohiniyattam and Bharatnatyam. She started Srutilaya Institute of Fine Arts in 1980 in Mumbai, which later became a recognized dance institute. She was still a high school student when she started this institution. She has played a significant role in popularizing these traditional art forms worldwide. 'Kalaasree'2011 from the Kerala Sangeetha Natak Akademi, 'Global Excellence Award' 2011 from GIA, New Delhi and Scholarship from Central Sangeet Natak Akademi for advanced training are among her received honours.
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Updated: January 23, 2014
