Kathakali and Mohiniyattam

Kathakali: Anupama Varma and Mala Pisharody; Story: Kalyanasaugandhikam; Author: Kottayathu Thampuran Mohiniyattam: Rajesh Pisharody, Mala Pisharody, Archana Pillai, Neeta Sahadevan and Poornima Balakrishnan

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Artist Profiles
Rajesh Pisharody who hails from Chowwara, Ernakulam District in Kerala initially trained under Shri.Trichur Sahadevan in Mohiniattam, under whom he performed his Arangetram true to Kerala tradition. He has also extensively trained under Smt. Kusum Gopalakrishnan and Shri. Gopalakrishnan in Kerala Natanam. Rajesh continues to pursue his training in classical dancing under Padmashri Smt.Chitra Vishwesharan in Bharathnatyam, following the Vazhavoor tradition, and has for many years toured extensively in her troupe around the world and in India performing in her dance ballets including Vasudeva Kudumbakam, Mary magdelene, Religions of India and has performed in well known Sabhas including the Music academy, Mylapore Fine Arts. Narada Gana Sabha, Krishna Gana Sabha, Thanjavur Tamil World Conference, Natyanjali festival at the Chidambaram temple. Rajesh has also completed his advanced training in Mohiniattam under the well-known Padmashri Smt. Bharathi Shivaji at the Centre for Mohiniattam and danced in her production Chandrotsavam, Deavagita - Jaydev Gita Govindam at the Melpathur auditorium at the Guruvayoor temple in Kerala. Rajesh has worked as a principal dancer with the Choreographer Janak Khendry, in the dance productions of the Janak Khendry Dance Company in Toronto namely Upanishads, Mood of the Rhythms and is presently working on the production Gayathri. Rajesh has also worked with the Toronto based dance Choreographer Menaka Thakkar of the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company in the production Sitayana. Rajesh is the Founder Director of the institution "Adi Shankara Academy of Performing Arts" in Mississauga, Toronto along with the Associate Director Smt. Mala S. Pisharody conduct classes in Bharathnatyam, Mohiniattam, Thiruvadirakali and Carnatic music as well. Mala Pisharody started her dance training at an early age of eight in three classical dance styles Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam and Kathakali with very distinguished Gurus in Kerala. Her Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam training was with Shri. K.Venkatesh of the Balaji Kala Bhavan and Smt. Husna Bhanu and Kathakali training with Narippatta Narayanan Namboodri. She trained in classical Carnatic music under the guidance of Smt. Babitha Narayan and Smt. Suma Sreedharan. She has completed her Ganabhooshanam Diploma course in music. Mala is a graded performing artist in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniattam with Trivandrum Doordarshan Kendra in India. She has performed extensively at prestigious venues in all three-dance styles: including the Melpapathur Auditorium, Guruvayoor, Nrithyosavam, Vadakkunathan Temple - Thrissur, Mookaambika Temple - Karnataka, Brihadeshshwar Temple - Tanjaur, Island Tourism Festival - Andamans and other cities like Palghat, Coimbatore and Trivandrum. Smt. Mala has worked as a principal dancer with the Choreographer Janak Khendry, in the dance productions of the Janak Khendry Dance Company in Toronto namely Upanishads, Mood of the Rhythms and is presently working on the production Gayathri. Anupama Varma was born in the cradle of temple arts - Tripunithura and a member of Cochin Royal Family,Anupama acquired the basic and advanced skills in kathakali & continues her research under her Guru Shree FACT Padmanabhan. First Kathakali performance at Shree Poornathrayeesa Temple, Tripunithura in 1991. Became an active member of "Tripunithura Kathakali Kendram - Ladies Troupe ", the only Kathakali organization in kerala where female artists perform kathakali , previously dominated by male artists. She has performed kathakali in many famous temples and kathakali clubs in kerala. Award winner at the University festival (1996) for the performance as "Keechaka". Felicitated by Tripunithura

Kathakali Kendram during the Silver Jubilee celebrations.Anupama is ranked as professional kathakali artist whos name is included in the Kathakali Encyclopedia (Kathakali Vijnanakosam). Over the years, she has enacted various characters in different stories through Pacha (Green), kathi (Villanious), Red Thadi (Red Beard) and Sthree (Lady) veshams (Characters). Her expertise is in characters such as Bheema (kalyanasaugandhikam), Arjuna (Kirathom, Geethopadesam), Keechaka (Keechakavadhom), Duryodhana and Dushasana (Duryodhana vadhom, Karnasapadhom) and Poothana (Poothanamoksham) . At present, Anupama is residing in Toronto with her husband Mr. Godavarma Dineshkumar and her two children Gayathri & Jayashree. She has performed kathakali on various occasions in Toronto and at India School of Dance, Winnipeg. Her aim is to promote the great artform of Kathakali in Canada through stage performances as well as workshops.

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