Draft:Revathi Ramachandran
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{{AFC comment|1=Please add atleast two more high-quality sources that provide significant coverage about the subject in reliable, independent publications. Currently, only [https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/its-time-to-give-back-says-kalakshetras-new-director/article23838265.ece this source] in the draft meets this standard, while the others do not offer substantial coverage about the subject. I will be able to accept the draft once two additional reliable sources with in-depth coverage are included. Afstromen (talk) 04:29, 26 May 2025 (UTC)}}
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{{Infobox person
| name = Revathi Ramachandran
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|5|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| nationality = Indian
| occupation = Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, teacher, arts administrator
| years_active = 1972–present
| known_for = Director of Kalakshetra Foundation (2018–2023), exponent of Suddha Nrittam
| awards = Kalaimamani, Nadana Maamani, Yuva Kala Bharathi, Isai Kalai Chelvar, Natya Kala Sikhamani, Arsha Kala Bhushanam, Vani Kalasudhakar, Singarmani
| education = M.A. in Economics
}}
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.{{cite news |title=Revathi Ramachandran to be Kalakshetra director |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/revathi-ramachandran-to-be-kalakshetra-director/article23395879.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2018-03-27 |access-date=2025-05-26}} 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.{{cite web |title=Revathi Ramachandran |url=https://ccrtindia.gov.in/artists_profile/revathi-ramachandran/ |website=Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) |access-date=2025-05-26}}
Early life and education
Ramachandran was born on 21 May 1960 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Her mother, Jaya Venkatraman, a student of musician M. L. Vasanthakumari, introduced her to dance.{{cite web |title=Revathi Ramachandran and Thankamani Kutty |url=https://www.sruti.com/index.php/printeditions/sruti-back-issues-individual/revathi-ramachandran-and-thankamani-kutty |website=Sruti |access-date=2025-05-26}} She completed her arangetram in 1972 at age twelve and holds an M.A. in Economics. In her youth, she captained the Tamil Nadu Women's Basketball team in the early 1980s and briefly worked at Indian Bank before pursuing dance full-time.{{cite news |title=It’s time to give back, says Kalakshetra’s new director |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/its-time-to-give-back-says-kalakshetras-new-director/article23838265.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2018-04-19 |access-date=2025-05-26}}
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. She also studied nattuvangam under Guru Bhagavatulu Seetarama Sarma at Kala Peetham, Chennai, veena under Kalpagam Swaminathan, and Kuchipudi under Vempati Chinna Satyam, and received guidance from Padma Subrahmanyam.{{cite web |title=Profile: Revathi Ramachandran |url=https://narthaki.com/info/profiles/profl100.html |website=Narthaki |access-date=2025-05-26}}{{cite news |title=Revathi Ramachandran's Jagat Pavani Ganga conveys a message with grace |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/revathi-ramachandrans-jagat-pavani-ganga-conveys-a-message-with-grace/article20477347.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2017-11-16 |access-date=2025-05-26}}
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. Internationally, she has performed in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and at the World Conference on Peace and Religion. Notable performances include a 1992 tour with the International Dance Alliance’s ballet Krishnam Vande Jagatgurum and a choreographic workshop for India Dance Wales in Cardiff, UK, in 2004.
Her productions, such as Jagat Pavani Ganga, Devi, and Upanishad Bharatham, explore spiritual themes from the Upanishads.{{cite news |title=Dancers interpret Upanishads in different ways |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dancers-interpret-upanishads-in-different-ways/article6317511.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2014-08-14 |access-date=2025-05-26}}{{cite news |title=Upanishad Bharatham: Narada Gana Sabha’s annual Natyarangam festival |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/upanishad-bharatham-narada-gana-sabhas-annual-natyarangam-festival-will-be-held-from-august-49/article6267589.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2014-08-01 |access-date=2025-05-26}} 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.{{cite news |title=Many moods, many mudras |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/Many-moods-many-mudras/article15126148.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2016-09-08 |access-date=2025-05-26}}{{cite news |title=Rhythm, movement, rasa |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/rhythm-movement-rasa/article7662515.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2015-09-17 |access-date=2025-05-26}} 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.{{cite news |title=Taking a fresh route |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/Taking-a-fresh-route/article13372188.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2016-02-04 |access-date=2025-05-26}}
Ramachandran received a fellowship from the Ministry of Human Resource Development in 1989 to research Bhagavata Mela, a traditional dance-drama. She has assisted scholars like T.S. Parthasarathy, Arudra, and R. Nagaswamy by demonstrating Suddha Nrittam and Tiru Tala Jati during their lectures. She organizes an annual festival in memory of her guru, Mangudi Dorairaja Iyer.{{cite news |title=Homage to a Kalakshetra genius |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/homage-to-a-kalakshetra-genius/article22826018.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2018-02-22 |access-date=2025-05-26}} 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.
Her awards include the Kalaimamani, Nadana Maamani, Yuva Kala Bharathi (1992), Isai Kalai Chelvar (1993), Natya Kala Sikhamani, Arsha Kala Bhushanam, Vani Kalasudhakar (2005), Singarmani (1983), and Best Dancer awards from the Music Academy (1988) and Narada Gana Sabha.
Directorship at Kalakshetra
Appointed Director of the Kalakshetra Foundation in April 2018 by the Union Ministry of Culture, Ramachandran succeeded Priyadarsini Govind.{{cite news |title=Revathi Ramachandran to be Kalakshetra director |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/revathi-ramachandran-to-be-kalakshetra-director/article23395879.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2018-03-27 |access-date=2025-05-26}} Her tenure, originally three years, was extended until October 2023.{{cite news |title=Kalakshetra Foundation director gets extension |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/kalakshetra-foundation-director-gets-extension/article33590833.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2021-02-25 |access-date=2025-05-26}} She aimed to make Kalakshetra’s dance, music, and allied arts programs more accessible.
In 2021, she faced criticism for allegedly mishandling a food poisoning outbreak at the Kalakshetra hostel, with reports that students were asked to apologize for raising concerns.{{cite news |title=Food poisoning at Kalakshetra: Students asked to apologise for raising issue |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/food-poisoning-kalakshetra-students-asked-apologise-raising-issue-143586 |work=The News Minute |date=2021-03-01 |access-date=2025-05-26}} In 2023, protests arose over sexual harassment allegations against four faculty members, including Hari Padman, who was arrested in April 2023.{{cite news |title=Kalakshetra sexual harassment case: Faculty member arrested |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chennai-news/kalakshetra-sexual-harassment-case-faculty-member-arrested-101680753456789.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=2023-04-07 |access-date=2025-05-26}} Students claimed Ramachandran dismissed complaints and led the Internal Complaints Committee, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.{{cite news |title=Explained: What is the controversy at Chennai's Kalakshetra Foundation? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-culture/kalakshetra-foundation-chennai-controversy-sexual-harassment-allegations-8542662/ |work=The Indian Express |date=2023-04-10 |access-date=2025-05-26}} The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women investigated over 90 complaints and summoned Ramachandran to review the committee’s operations.{{cite news |title=Kalakshetra sexual harassment case: TN women's panel summons director |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kalakshetra-sexual-harassment-case-tn-womens-panel-summons-director-175878 |work=The News Minute |date=2023-04-06 |access-date=2025-05-26}} An inquiry led by retired Justice K. Kannan recommended administrative reforms.{{cite news |title=Kalakshetra inquiry recommends administrative overhaul |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/kalakshetra-inquiry-committee-recommends-administrative-overhaul/article66909323.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2023-05-25 |access-date=2025-05-26}}
Ramachandran resigned on October 31, 2023, and was succeeded by Aneish Rajan, Deputy Secretary at the Union Ministry of Culture.{{cite news |title=Kalakshetra director Revathi Ramachandran steps down |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/kalakshetra-director-revathi-ramachandran-steps-down/article67467781.ece |work=The Hindu |date=2023-11-01 |access-date=2025-05-26}}
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.{{cite news |title=Woman at the helm |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/features/woman-helm-672987.html |work=Deccan Herald |date=2018-06-10 |access-date=2025-05-26}}