Revathi Ramachandran

Revathi Ramachandran (born 21 May 1960) is an Indian Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, teacher, and arts administrator. She served as the Director of the Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai from April 2018 to October 2023. A specialist in the Melattur style of Bharatanatyam, she is recognized as the sole exponent of Suddha Nrittam, a temple dance tradition revived by her guru, Mangudi Dorairaja Iyer.

Early life and education Ramachandran was born on 21 May 1960 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She completed her arangetram in 1972 at age twelve and holds an M.A. in Economics.

Dance career Trained by Guru Mangudi Dorairaja Iyer in the Melattur style of Bharatanatyam, Ramachandran is the sole practitioner of Suddha Nrittam, a temple dance form he revived. As an A-grade artist of Doordarshan, she has performed solo recitals and dance-dramas across India at venues such as Sri Krishna Gana Sabha (1981, 1986, 1991, 1995, 2002, 2003), Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Music Academy, Chennai (1997, 2003), Chidambaram Natyanjali Festival (1988), Mamallapuram Dance Festival, and festivals organized by Narada Gana Sabha, Kartik Fine Arts, and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Other works include Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatam, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalambam, Thennadu Udaiya Sivane Potri, Ambalathil Aadum Jyothi, Navavidha Bhakthi, Aayar Kula Thilakam, Jaya Jaya Bharatham, and Lakshmi Vaibhavam, which highlight themes of worship and Indian culture. She founded Kala Sadhanalya, a Bharatanatyam school in Abiramapuram, Chennai, dedicated to the Melattur style, and serves as secretary of the International Dance Alliance, Madras chapter.

Ramachandran received a fellowship from the Ministry of Human Resource Development in 1989 to research Bhagavata Mela, a traditional dance-drama. She has also contributed to media, providing video footage for the CD-ROM Bharatanatyam by Info-Drive, directing the Doordarshan serial Deiveega Thirumanangal, and producing Bharatha Deviyin Parimanangal and dance sequences for Jnaana Parambarai and Manam Kulir Margazhi. She aimed to make Kalakshetra’s dance, music, and allied arts programs more accessible. In 2023, protests arose over sexual harassment allegations against four faculty members, including Hari Padman, who was arrested in April 2023. Students claimed Ramachandran dismissed complaints and led the Internal Complaints Committee, raising conflict-of-interest concerns. The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women investigated over 90 complaints and summoned Ramachandran to review the committee’s operations. An inquiry led by retired Justice K. Kannan recommended administrative reforms. Ramachandran resigned on 31 October 2023, and was succeeded by Aneish Rajan, Deputy Secretary at the Union Ministry of Culture.

Personal life Ramachandran lives in Abiramapuram, Chennai. Her daughter, Manaswini, is a Bharatanatyam dancer and manages Kala Sadhanalya when Ramachandran is occupied with administrative responsibilities.