Kalaimamani Madurai Shri R MURALIDARAN, an exponent of Indian Classical Dance Form BHARATHANATYAM, a prolific Dancer, Choreographer, Nattuvanar, Composer, Guru, Musician, Percussionist, Producer, Director, Playwright, Lyricist. Shri Muralidaran is best known for his large body of modern compositions for Bharatanatyam dancers and his many elaborate dance musical productions. 

 

His works explore the complexities of Bharathanatyam theory and rhythms while remaining accessible and appealing to a modern lay audience. Recognized as one of the stalwarts of Indian classical dance and music, Shri Muralidaran began his training at age 7 under Guru Kalaimamani Chamundeeswari. 
He founded Nrithyakshethra Dance Academy in Chennai in 1978 and has since trained over 2500 dancers around the globe. He serves on the advisory board of Alagappa University’s online degree course program. Shri Muralidaran has received numerous accolades, most notably the Kalaimamani award from the Tamil Nadu state government for 2019. Kala Seva Bharathi from Bharath Kalachar, Kala Sironmani from Chennai Cultural Academy, Parambara Noothana from Pothy’s Parambara Classic Awards for his contributions to the filed of Bharathanatyam and dance theatre. He has also achieved a number of records certified by Guinness, Asia and India Book of Records, including teaching 359 students an Alarippu in Sankeerna Jaathi Dhruva Talam in 2019, composing 25 Varnams in 25 days in 2020 and leading 125 dancers worldwide to present 75 unique Jathis on a virtual platform in 2021. He has contributed Rs.10 Lakh to the Government of Tamil of Tamil Nadu for Covid Relief Fund by presenting a Virtual Performance along with 850 dancers all over the Globe on 1st of August which was also his 3rd Guinness world records. He has been the creative director in charge of music, choreography, script and effects for several large-scale dance musicals. His productions, incorporating both dance and drama, are based on both traditional Hindu mythology as well as stories from ancient and contemporary Tamil literature. In November 2009, he debuted Silapathigaram, a production based on the classic Sangam Tamil epic by Ilango Adigal, and which has since been performed worldwide from the US to New Zealand. He is the first person to depict Amarar Kalki’s historic thriller Sivakamiyin Sabadam on stage in his 2013 large-scale production. His other large-scale productions include Yagnaseni, based on the story of Draupadi from the Mahabharatha. Avadhara Purushan, based on Ramayana, and Yadhava Madhava – Story of Krishna. His another acclaimed production is Karna, centered on the generous yet flawed anti-hero of the Mahabharata. Sri Muralidaran has composed and released more than 150 audio albums exclusively for the field of Bharathanatyam. His dance music albums are used by Bharatha Natyam dancers worldwide. In 2001, Sri Muralidaran was recognized by the prominent Indian music and dance critic Subbudu for “ushering in a new era of composing Varnams for the Bharatanatyam repertoire with new themes and… encompassing varied rhythmic cycles with matching lyrics.” Having studied Mridangam in addition to his pursuit of Bharatha Natyam, Shri Muralidharan compositions explore the nuances of rhythm theory. He has already composed full Margams in all 35 talams of the Carnatic Sooladhi Saptha talam and staged 20 Margams successfully Which includes Ashta Dasa Margam, composed in Misra jati ata talam, Akhanda Margam, composed in kanda jati ata talam, and Nava Dhruvam, composed in Sankeerna Jati dhruva talam, the longest talam cycle with 29 Aksharas. In 2018, Shri Muralidaran highlighted his exploration of rhythm with a pair of dance festivals. In April 2018, his rhythm festival Chaturvidham presented four new margams each completely set to a rare talam. The festival culminated with a massive live class with over 320 students learning the Nattuvangam and choreography for an Alarippu set to Sankeerna Jaathi Dhruva Talam, the longest talam in the Carnatic system. This class set Guinness, India Book and Asia Book records for the largest live Bharatha Natyam dance lesson. In November 2018, Shri Muralidharan presented Dhimahi, a three-day dance festival described as “dynamic meditations on Laya”, featuring new margams set to 5 more rare talams. In addition to composing individual songs in all 35 talams of the Carnatic Sooladhi Saptha talam system, Shri Muralidaran has also composed over 120 Varnams, and Jathswarams in all 72 Melakarata Ragas. Creating compositions in all 72 ragas is an accomplishment that Shri Muralidharan shares with only one other, M. Balamuralikrishna. He likes to explore rare ragas in his compositions, such as Chandra Jyoti, Ganamurthi, and Madhyamavati. Sri Muralidharan’s thematic repertoires include Sri Anjeneyam, which centers on the stories of Lord Hanuman and Nayaka, which explores the different roles in life for males from boyhood through adult. He’s been a great boon to the field of Bharatanatyam and so many artists all around the globe are potentially benefitted with his selfless service to the Bharatanatyam industry . He is the only one person holding 12 world records which includes 3 Guinness records for his achievements in the field of Bharatha Natyam and recently he has been conferred a title of “Natya Sadhanai Chemmal” by the prestigious organization Abhai in Chennai and also He has been awarded “Sadhanai Chemmal Award” for the year 2022 by Sangam Global academy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia On July 2nd 2022 he presented his Magnum Opus production “Sanga Tamil” based on Classic Tamil Sangam Literature in the occasion of Federation of Tamil Sangam of North America (FeTNA) in USA. He trained almost 75 dancers remotely and presented Sanga Tamil in the presence of many tamil scholars, Ministers and dignitaries.