Methil Devika

Devika has two elder sisters Radhika Pillai (Educator and Art Critic), and Methil Renuka who works as Editor, Forbes. Renowned writer Methil Radhakrishnan is her mother's brother. Writer V. K. N.'s wife Vedavathi is her mother's sister.

Devika attended The Indian High School, Dubai, St. Thomas Convent School, Palakkad, and Mercy College, Palakkad before obtaining a degree in Commerce from Government Victoria College, Palakkad. She has an M.A. in Performing Arts from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata and an MBA from the University of Madras. She completed a Ph.D. in Mohiniyattam from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli.{{Cite news|date=16 February 2017|title=Dancing to the tunes of life|language=en|work=Deccan Chronicle|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/books-and-art/160217/dancing-to-the-tunes-of-life.html|access-date=12 July 2018}}

File:Methil Devika Mohiniyattam.jpg

Devika has given solo performances in dance festivals in India, including Khajuraho International Festival.{{Cite web|date=2016-03-07|title=So much divine energy in Khajuraho: Methil Devika|url=https://indianewengland.com/2016/03/much-divine-energy-khajuraho-methil-devika/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=INDIA New England News|language=en|archive-date=28 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728212359/https://indianewengland.com/2016/03/much-divine-energy-khajuraho-methil-devika/|url-status=dead}}

She has performed at the Madras Music Academy,{{Cite web|last=Kochi|first=RITZ|date=2019-01-22|title=Redefining Dance : A Chat With Dr.Methil Devika! {{!}} RITZ|url=https://www.ritzmagazine.in/redefining-dance-a-chat-with-dr-methil-devika/|access-date=2021-05-24|language=en-US}} Mudra Festival{{Cite news|last=Nisha|date=2010-09-17|title=Exquisite recitals|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/Exquisite-recitals/article15971330.ece|access-date=2021-05-24|issn=0971-751X}} and Nishagandhi Dance Festival.{{Cite news|last=Nampoothiri|first=Hareesh N.|date=2015-02-05|title=Potpourri of dance|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/nishagandhi-festival-review/article6856139.ece|access-date=2021-05-24|issn=0971-751X}} She has performed in Boston,{{Cite web|title=Mohiniyattam recital by Methil Devika in Boston!! at Chinmaya Mission Auditorium, Andover, MA {{!}} Indian Event|url=https://events.sulekha.com/mohiniyattam-recital-by-methil-devika-in-boston_event-in_andover-ma_294065|access-date=2021-05-24|website=events.sulekha.com|language=en}} New York City, Texas, Philadelphia, Laos,{{Cite web|title=First Indian Classical Dance Show Debuts in Vientiane Capital – Lao Tribune|date=26 January 2017 |url=https://laotribune.com/first-indian-classical-dance-show-debuts-in-vientiane-capital/|access-date=2021-05-24|language=en-US}} Chiang Mai,{{Cite web|title=Indian Dance and Fashion Show at Central festival|url=http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/social-pics/indian-dance-and-fashion-show-at-central-festival/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Chiang Mai Citylife|language=en-US}} Sydney, and Melbourne.{{Cite web|last=admin|title=Methil Devika Dance workshop in Melbourne|url=https://www.india2australia.com/methil-devika-dance-workshop-in-melbourne/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Indian Events {{!}} Movies {{!}} Australian|language=en-US}}

In 2018, Devika created the short film documentary Sarpatatwam or The Serpent Wisdom. She set the lyrics to music, choreographed and performed the dance, also serving as co-director and co-producer.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/methil-devika-delves-into-the-myth-of-the-serpent-in-rajesh-kadambas-documentary-sarpatatwam/article24994940.ece|title=In tune with the dance of the serpent|last=Nagarajan|first=Saraswathy|date=20 September 2018|work=The Hindu|access-date=14 October 2018|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}} The film was voted into the contention list of the Academy Awards in 2018.{{Cite web|last=Slayton|first=Jeff|title=Sarpathathwa -The Serpent Wisdom: A Beautiful Short Film by Indian Classical Dancer Methil Devika|url=https://www.ladancechronicle.com/sarpathathwa-the-serpent-wisdom-a-beautiful-short-film-by-indian-classical-dancer-methil-devika/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=L.A. Dance Chronicle|date=26 September 2018 |language=en-US}} It premiered at the Prestige Theatres, LA and was also screened at various international theatres. It was also the opening film at the National Film Archive of India, Pune.

Her work Ahalya which was commissioned by Sampradaya Dance Company also opened to world premiere in May 2021. It was based on reflections in solitude done during Covid lockdown and the music and dance being composed by herself.{{Cite news|last=Kumar|first=P. k Ajith|date=2021-05-06|title=When life imitates art during pandemic|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/when-life-imitates-art-during-pandemic/article34496090.ece|access-date=2021-05-24|issn=0971-751X}}

Her dance based short film ‘The Crossover’, that amalgamates Indian Sign Language with hastha mudras of Indian classical dance was screened at the Mumbai International Film Festival, 2024.https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2027096 A research article authored by her based on the above performance creation has also been published by Taylor and Francis.{{Cite journal |last=Devika |first=Methil |last2=Justin |first2=Babitha |date=2024-03-14 |title=The Crossover: Integrating Indian Sign Language with the Mudras in an Indian Classical Dance Performance Creation |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08949468.2024.2319017 |journal=Visual Anthropology |language=en |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=146–165 |doi=10.1080/08949468.2024.2319017 |issn=0894-9468}}

Devika's archival film was voted into the Academy Awards Contention List 2018.{{Cite web|title=Review - Sarpatatwam - Padma Jayaraj|url=https://narthaki.com/info/rev20/rev2500.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=narthaki.com}} She won two national awards (Ustad Bismillah Yuva Puraskar for Mohiniyattam 2007{{Cite news|title=Methil Devika interacts with students in the city - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/methil-devika-interacts-with-students-in-the-city/articleshow/19635783.cms|access-date=2021-05-24|website=The Times of India|date=19 April 2013 }} and the Devadasi Award from the Minister of Orissa in 2010{{Cite web|title=Keeping a tradition alive|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2010/oct/01/keeping-a-tradition-alive-191386.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=The New Indian Express|date=16 May 2012 }}). She received the state honours Kshetrakala Akademy Award 2020{{Cite web|title=Thiraseela.com|url=https://thiraseela.com/achievement|access-date=2021-05-24|website=thiraseela.com}} and the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaculture.org/dance-a-ksna/466|title=Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Dance|publisher=Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala|access-date=26 February 2023}}{{Cite web|title=Methil Devika|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/mbifl2019/speakers/methil-devika-mbifl-2019-1.3480230|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Mathrubhumi|date=14 January 2019 |language=en}}

She received the Best Dancer Award of the Mid‐Year Fest from Madras Music Akademy in 2016.{{Cite news|last=Srikanth|first=Rupa|date=2016-07-08|title=Dance of grace|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/Dance-of-grace/article14477818.ece|access-date=2021-05-24|issn=0971-751X}} She is empanelled into SPIC‐MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) in 2010.{{Cite web|title=Samskriti: Collaborations With SPIC MACAY {{!}} Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham|url=https://www.amrita.edu/association/samskriti/spicmacay|access-date=2021-05-24|website=www.amrita.edu}}{{Cite web|date=2013-04-10|title=Forgotten moves|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/forgotten-moves/story-YNkBi7SiizJlIsK8LdgqDL.html|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}} She is empanelled artiste for Mohiniyattam at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.{{Cite web|title=Dr. Methil Devika {{!}} Indian Council for Cultural Relations|url=https://www.iccr.gov.in/cultural/list-of-empanelment-artist/dr-methil-devika|access-date=2021-05-24|website=www.iccr.gov.in}} Her recent award was the Dakshinamurthy Puraskar which she received in 2022

along with Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Sivamani.{{Cite news |date=2022-12-13 |title=Singer Nanchamma, 3 others to receive awards |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/singer-nanchamma-3-others-to-receive-awards/articleshow/96187270.cms |access-date=2023-07-21 |issn=0971-8257}}

Devika is also the recipient of 'the Avanavan Kadamba award, 2023' by Kavalam Samskriti for her contribution to dance and theatre. She has received the award from Adoor Gopalakrishnan, the legendary film maker from Kerala.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-09-13 |title=അവനവന്‍ കടമ്പ പുരസ്‌കാരം മേതില്‍ ദേവികയ്ക്ക് |url=https://janmabhumi.in/2024/09/13/3266170/news/kerala/avavan-kadamba-award-to-methil-devika/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Janmabhumi |language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/whither-mohiniyattam/article6334879.ece Article on Mohiniyattam by Methil Devika]
• {{Commons category inline|Methil Devika}}

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Category:Indian female classical dancers

Category:Mohiniyattam exponents

Category:University of Madras alumni

Category:Rabindra Bharati University alumni

Category:1977 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Dubai

Category:Indian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates

Category:Government Victoria College, Palakkad alumni

Category:Artists from Palakkad

Category:Dancers from Kerala

Category:Women artists from Kerala

Category:20th-century Indian dancers

Category:20th-century Indian women artists

Category:Koodiyattam exponents

Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award