Nirmala Ramachandran

Nirmala Ramachandran is a Bharathanatyam dancer from Mylapore, Tamil Nadu. In 2004, she received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India, for her contributions in the field of Bharatanatyam.

Biography Nirmala Viswanathan was born on 9 February 1936 in Mylapore, Tamil Nadu. Nirmala's father Vishwanathan, a businessman, was a descended of the Needamangalam in Thanjavur district.

Nirmala, who was also interested in Carnatic music, did her Bachelor of Arts in Carnatic music from the Queen Mary's College in Chennai under University of Madras, in 1956, and did her advanced training under K. V. Narayanaswamy and T. Muktha.

Nirmala, who had to live in various countries with her husband Ramachandran, continued her artistic career and spread the art of Bharatanatyam in those countries as well through her performances, lectures, and classes. She had performed in various venues worldwide including the India festival in the Soviet Union in 1987-88.

Nirmala Ramachandran, who is also a Bharatanatyam teacher, has trained many dancers at her institution, Nirmala Niketan.

Awards and honors In 2001 Nirmala received Certificate of Merit award from the Madras Music Academy. In 2004, she received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Bharatanatyam.