Nirmala Ramachandran
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9 February 1936
Nirmala Ramachandran | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nirmala Viswanathan 9 February 1936 |
| Died | 23 February 2011 (aged 75) |
| Occupations | Bharatanatyam dancer, dance teacher |
| Spouse | S. Ramachandran |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
|
| Awards | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2004) |
Nirmala Ramachandran is a Bharathanatyam dancer from Mylapore, Tamil Nadu. In 2004, she received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India, for her contributions in the field of Bharatanatyam.
Personal life and death
Nirmala Viswanathan was born on 9 February 1936, at Mylapore, Tamil Nadu.[1][2] Nirmala's father Vishwanathan, a businessman, was descended from Needamangalam in Thanjavur district.[2] Her mother, Sivakamu, was a lover of music and dance. Sivakamu's connection with dancer Mylapore Gowri Ammal, who was a regular visitor to their home in Mylapore and later Egmore, brought her closer to Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam.[2] Nirmala came to be known as Nirmala Ramachandran after she married Ramachandran, an Air India officer posted abroad.[1]
Nirmala did her initial Bharatanatyam training under Mylapore Gowri Ammal and Pandanallur Chokkalingam Pillai.[2] She had her arangettam (first public stage performance) in 1947, when she was 11 years.[1] She continued her studies and trained under T. Jayamma and T. Murthamma of the Dhanammal school from 1955 to 1963.[3]
Nirmala, who was also interested in Carnatic music, did her Bachelor of Arts in Carnatic music from the Queen Mary's College in Chennai under University of Madras, in 1956, and did her advanced training under K. V. Narayanaswamy and T. Muktha.[1][2]
In 1958 she married S. Ramachandran, an Air India officer.[2] The couple have two sons, Dr. Ram Gopalakrishnan and Siddhartha Ramachandran.[2] She died on 23 February 2011, at Chennai, Tamil Nadu.[2]
