Nandini Ramani

Ramani was born on 18 November 1950.{{Cite web |title=Nandini Ramani Inheritor Of A Rare Legacy - Read this story on Magzter.com |url=https://www.magzter.com/stories/6187/254961/5a25584558e51 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=www.magzter.com |language=en}} Her Father V. Raghavan was a Sanskrit scholar and musicologist.{{Cite web |last=Sampath |first=Janani |date=2015-05-27 |title=For the Love of the Language of Sanskrit |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2015/May/27/for-the-love-of-the-language-of-sanskrit-766120.html |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=VELLAT |first=ANURADHA |date=2019-05-16 |title=Balamma never used to compliment: Nandini Ramani |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/balamma-never-used-to-compliment-nandini-ramani/article27147873.ece |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=2023-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203231627/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/balamma-never-used-to-compliment-nandini-ramani/article27147873.ece |url-status=live }} She started learning Bharatanatyam at the age of five.{{Cite web |last=India |first=The Hans |date=2019-12-22 |title=Reflection of Nandini Ramani: The second edition of Antharangam |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/featured/sunday-hans/reflection-of-nandini-ramani-the-second-edition-of-antharangam-591695 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=www.thehansindia.com |language=en}} She started acting in her father's Sanskrit plays when she was only nine.

Her guru in language and writing was her father Raghavan.{{Cite news |last=Ramani |first=V. V. |date=2018-02-08 |title=Nandini Ramani as the torchbearer of Bala bani |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/nandini-ramani-as-the-torchbearer-of-bala-bani/article22691910.ece |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=2020-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220121320/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/the-hindu-friday-review/article30413290.ece |url-status=live }} Dancer Thanjavur Balasaraswathi and Nattuvanar K. Ganesan were her dance gurus, while B. Krishnamurthy and T. Muktha were her music gurus.{{Cite news |last=Nadadhur |first=Srivathsan |date=2019-12-27 |title=Nandini Ramani: Tradition and talent in balance |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/the-hindu-friday-review/article30413290.ece |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=2020-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220121320/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/the-hindu-friday-review/article30413290.ece |url-status=live }}

Ramani is a person who has contributed in various fields, including Bharatanatyam dancer, Sanskrit drama actress cum director, art critic, writer, publisher, columnist, and TV presenter.{{Cite web |title=Carrying a legacy |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/features/carrying-legacy-2077365 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2013-06-22 |title=On natural allies |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/on-natural-allies/article4834188.ece |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

In Bharatanatyam, Nandini is a follower of Bala tradition, known by her guru Balasaraswati. Her arangetram (first stage performance) was in 1970. During 1973-78 period, she taught Bharatanatyam at the Bala Saraswati School of Bharatanatyam under Madras Music Academy. She is also a Carnatic music singer and is one of the few dancers who can sing while dancing.{{Cite web |last=Sampath |first=Janani |date=2014-04-03 |title='Art is a Continuous Journey, It Sails With You' |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2014/Apr/03/art-is-a-continuous-journey-it-sails-with-you-593812.html |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}

Ramani has performed at many venues in and outside India and has toured the Netherlands regularly. She has performed at venues such as The Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, and the Music Center, Utrecht.

Ramani, who taught many people through her own dance school established in the 1970s, has students even outside India, especially from the US, Canada, and the Netherlands.

Having learnt Sanskrit from her father, she produces and directs Sanskrit plays under the banner of 'Sanskrit Ranga' founded by her father. Nandini scripted and directed an episode of the 13-part series 'Kalathai Ventavar', which was aired on Doordarshan.

Ramani was a member of the Executive Board of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and is currently a member of the General Council of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. She also served as the secretary of the Madras Music Academy.

Nandini has received several awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her overall contribution to the performing arts and the 'Natya Padma' award from the Brahma Gana Sabha. In 2023 July, she received the Kartik Rajagopal Memorial Award.{{Cite web |last=MyTimes |first=Team |date=2023-07-04 |title=MYLAPORE TIMES - Scholar Nandini Ramani presented Kartik Rajagopal Memorial Award |url=https://www.mylaporetimes.com/2023/07/scholar-nandini-ramani-presented-kartik-rajagopal-memorial-award/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=MYLAPORE TIMES |language=en-US}}

Nandini has also been honoured by giving titles like Natya Kala Sikhamani.{{Cite news |date=2013-01-24 |title=Truly classical |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/truly-classical/article4329014.ece |access-date=2025-01-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

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• [https://narthaki.com/info/intervw/intrvw8.html Interview with Nandini Ramani]

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Category:1950 births

Category:Bharatanatyam exponents

Category:Indian female classical dancers

Category:Living people

Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

Category:20th-century Indian dancers

Category:20th-century Indian women artists