Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam is a legendary Bharatanatyam dancer and the director of Nrithyodaya, the dance school founded in 1942 by her father, Sri. K. Subrahmanyam, in Chennai.
Encouraged by her father, Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam started learning under Kausalya who was a young teacher at Nrityodaya. Later, she came under the wings of guru Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai (see below) and had her arangetram in 1956. Recognizing her talent, her father helped her further her capabilities. From Dandayuthapani Pillai, she learnt adavus, from Gowri Ammal she learnt abhinaya. From various devadasis, she learnt 150 different adavus. Thus began her research.
Dr. Subrahmanyam has a Bachelor’s degree in Music, a Master’s in Ethno Musicology and a Ph.D in dance from Annamalai University. As a research scholar she did her thesis on “Karanas in Indian dance and sculpture” and focused on the concept that the 108 Karanas (which are the basic units of dance) are actually movements and not just static poses. For more on Karanas, click here
Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam
is the recipient of many awards including Padmashri, Sangeet Natak Akademi
Award, Kalaimamani Award from Govt of Tamilnadu, Kalidas Samman from Govt
of Madhya Pradesh, Bharata Sastra Rakshamani from His Holiness Jagadguru
Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Nada Brahmam from Narada Gana
Sabha in Chennai, Soviet Land Nehru Award, Isai Perarignar from Tamil Isai
Sangam in Chennai, Chowdiah Award from Academy of Fine Arts in Bangalore,
Thirumurai Nadana Perarisi from Sekkizhar Manram, Satabdi Narthaki at a
felicitation in Mumbai, Pragna Puraskar, Kambarasa
Nartana Vilasa Vittagi from Colombo Kamban Kazhagam, and more.
Janaki with her Guru, Dr. Padma Subrahmanaym
For a more detailed profile of Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, visit
Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai was a unique teacher. He trained his students with dedication and instilled into them the need to give of their best to Bharatha Natyam. Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai was born into a Isai Vellalar family, the traditional breeding ground of dancers and musicians, Ramiah Pillai was a dance master cast in the traditional mould. He was born in the village Vazhuvoor, a few miles from Mayapuram.
The temple at Vazhuvoor village is dedicated to Lord Siva, under the name of Gannasabeshan, and to this day, the students of Vazhuvoor school, pay obeisance to the deity Gannasabeshan in the form of Thodayamangalam at the beginning of each dance recital. Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai trained numerous dance teachers, and numerous outstanding dancers of today.
He also composed a number of kuravanjies, and was the first one to use snake dance, which was very much popularised by Kamala Lakshmanan. He used mainly Tamil compositions, and varnams by Papanasasivam, and Swathi Thirunal. He himself composed many sabthams keerthanams, padams, and thillanas.
"The nirtha aspect of Bharatha Natyam shone in vibrant vitality throughout Ramiah Pillai's teaching career. He gave equal importance to Abinaya; but his style demanded a certain lilt which was at once dynamic graceful. He was the first one to introduce sticking poses in Bharatha Natyam. This sculpturesque quality became his hallmark and to this he added facile movements to make this dancers look like elegant ballerinas," - Lakshmi Visvanathan.
It is this unique portrayal that lends charm to the Bharatha Natyam presented by Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai's school and makes Vazhuvoor tradition a unique one. Generally there is a popular belief that there are four different styles in Bharatha Natyam, among them Vazhuvoor style gained the worldwide recognition which was to Vazhuvoor's lasting contribution to this great art.
He became an outstanding choreographer and dance director. He founded Vazhuvoorar Classical Bharatha Natya Art Centre at Mylapore, and organised Vazhuvoorar Art Festival in Chennai during the December season. In the closing years of his life he wrote a book 'Theiveka Aadal Kalai' on dance.
- Subashini Pathmanathan (a student of late Padmashree Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai)
Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam is a legendary Bharatanatyam dancer and the director of Nrithyodaya, the dance school founded in 1942 by her father, Sri. K. Subrahmanyam, in Chennai.
Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam
is the recipient of many awards including Padmashri, Sangeet Natak Akademi
Award, Kalaimamani Award from Govt of Tamilnadu, Kalidas Samman from Govt
of Madhya Pradesh, Bharata Sastra Rakshamani from His Holiness Jagadguru
Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Nada Brahmam from Narada Gana
Sabha in Chennai, Soviet Land Nehru Award, Isai Perarignar from Tamil Isai
Sangam in Chennai, Chowdiah Award from Academy of Fine Arts in Bangalore,
Thirumurai Nadana Perarisi from Sekkizhar Manram, Satabdi Narthaki at a
felicitation in Mumbai, Pragna Puraskar, Kambarasa
Nartana Vilasa Vittagi from Colombo Kamban Kazhagam, and more. 
Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai was a unique teacher. He trained his students with dedication and instilled into them the need to give of their best to Bharatha Natyam. Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai was born into a Isai Vellalar family, the traditional breeding ground of dancers and musicians, Ramiah Pillai was a dance master cast in the traditional mould. He was born in the village Vazhuvoor, a few miles from Mayapuram. 