Professor A Janardhanan[edit]

Introduction[edit]

Prof A Janardhanan was born on 25-04-1942, the son of the legendary Kathakali exponent Asan T Chandu Panicker. In the year 1958, at the age of 14, Sri Janardhanan began his training in Bharathanatyam by the illustrious founder of Kalakshetra , Smt Rukmini Devi Arundale, and in Kathakali by his father Asan T.K Chandu Panicker.

Prof A Janardhanan spent 47 interrupted years at Kalakshetra , first as an outstanding student who received his post graduate diploma in dance with distinction, then as a principal dancer of the Kalakshetra performing section as well as a respected teacher and Guru, next as the principal of the Rukmini Devi college of fine arts and finally as professor emeritus until his retirement at the age of 62.

The Artist and Performer[edit]

After completion of his PG at Kalakshetra he was awarded a Govt of India scholarship for 2 years of arduous advanced training in Kathakali under the late Padmasri Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, the illustrious former student of his father. Upon the completion of his advanced training Smt Rukmini Devi appointed him a teacher at Kalakshetra, and he was given the role of Principal dancer in the dance dramas choreographed by her. He has performed almost all the major male roles in the Kalakshetra repertoire and was particularly renowned for his principal role as Sri Rama in the famous Ramayana series of Kalakshetra, choreographed by Rukmini Devi Arundale. Smt Rukmini Devi composed many of the roles on Sri Janardhanan as the original performer and he has travelled widely both in India as well as abroad on cultural tours under her leadership. He was also the only young dancer from Kalakshetra to assist Smt Rukmini Devi in the international Ballet Competition held in Moscow in 1981, where she was a judge.

Prof Janardhanan had a long and illustrious career as the principal dancer of the Kalakshetra performing section, and was also intensely involved in managing and presenting the dance dramas in totality, training the young artistes and directing the rehearsals and performances. Together with his intensive performing schedules and responsibilities as principal dancer, Prof Janardhanan also worked as a deeply knowledgeable Guru who patiently guided the young generation of Kalakshetra to realise their potential as dancers.

He has the rare distinction of being a dance Guru who not only possess immense knowledge but has also embodied all that he teaches his students in his own illustrious career as principal dancer with the Kalakshetra troupe . In his long famous career he was famous for both his astonishing technical abilities as well as his pure and luminous abhinaya, which stood out for his amazing depth of characterization and purity of emotional expression. His long and arduous training under the great teachers in both Bharatanatyam as well as Kathakali gave his performances an unmatched beauty, technical perfection and emotional depth. His incomparable performances as Sri Rama in the Ramayana series were unforgettable to all those who were blessed to see it. His depth of characterization and technical perfection in the role have never been matched.

He embodied the complete picture of the Kalakshetra dancer as envisioned by Smt Rukmini Devi, with perfection of technique, purity of expression, complete refinement and masculine strength and vigor. In short Sri Janardhanan embodied the ideal of the male classical dancer.

Abhinaya in Kathakali can be defined as actor's theatre and its most important feature is acting at the micro level. Janardhanan as he was trained by his father Sri Chandu Panicker and Guru Padmashree Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair as a Kathakali artist could bring it out into the open the vast imagination of the mind and could use his body to create even vast objects. The training that he received from all these legendary and eminent gurus uses the breath, the eyes and every facial muscle to express deep emotions to effect character transformation within seconds.

Tours[edit]

He has travelled worldwide as a principal dancer with the Kalakshetra troupe and has performed in the West and East European countries, Australia, U.S.A, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Russia, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Fiji Islands, China, Singapore, Malaysia and the Reunion Islands.

The Guru[edit]

In 2001 Sri Janardhanan was made Principal of the Rukmini Devi Collage of Fine Arts, where he proved to be an excellent administrator and educationist. His primary goal was always to uphold the high standards and artistic vision of the founder of Kalakshetra, Smt Rukmini Devi, who Sri Janrdhanan considered not only a Guru but also a mother. His entire life's works has been dedicated towards propagating Rukmini Devi's vision of classical dance in all its purity of her exalted vision . He untiringly worked for 47 uninterrupted years at Kalakshetra on several fronts to preserve her vision and pass it on to the next generation in all its purity, both in the performing section as well as the training of students and running of the institution. After the demise of Smt Rukmini Devi, Prof Janardhanan was the key person to revive almost all the major dance dance dramas composed by her, and he led the Kalakshetra troupe both in India and abroad. Also he took a major part in making Rukmini Devi's birth centenary celebrations a grand success, with performances and lecture demonstrations held all over India.

He has choreographed two major dance dramas for Kalakshetra, “Karna Sapatham” in Malayalam and “Sri Purandara” in Kannada, in pure Kalakshetra style, which were well received and appreciated . After his retirement he composed “Sri Krishna Jananam” for Bharathakalanjali of Dhananjayans which was also very successful. Prof Janardhanan was able to balance and excel in both fulfilling his administrative duties as Principal as well as energetically working as director and performer in the performing section, teaching the students, and leading the Kalakstera troupe in India and abroad. He has always worked to maintain the high standards of excellence and pure artistry of the unique Kalakshetra style . His knowledge of all aspects of the dance dramas of Kalakshetra is unmatched.

Important Roles Bharatanatayam (Dance Dramas)[edit]

Some of his famous roles include Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Ravana, Vishwamitra,

Vashista, Dasharatha and Guha in the famous Ramayana series of Kalakshetra.

Buddha in Buddhavataram
Kuchela in Kuchelopakhyanam
Pandiya king in Meenakshi Vijayam.
Rukmi, Fortune teller, Bhishmaka and the Brahmin in Rukmini Kalyanam.
Bheema in Damayanthi Swayamvaram.
King Nagaraja and Nannan in Kannapar Kuravanji
Vajrasena, Kotwal and Uttiya in Tagore's Shyama
Brahmin Ajamila in Ajamilopakhynam
Jayadeva in Bhakta Jayadeva,
Duryodhana in Paanchali Shapatham
Sri Purandaradasa in Siri Purandara
Mahabali in Kurma avataram
Prabhudeva in Akka Mahadevi and
Most of the male roles in regular Kathakali performances.

Honours[edit]

In recognition of his service to the field of Arts he was honoured with a gold medal and shawl by Shankaracharya of Kanchi kamakoti.
Received the award “Bharata Kala Sagara “ from Bharatalaya of Padmashri Prof Sudharani Raghupathy in 2002.
Received the award “Natana Bhaskara” from Bhaskara Institute of the Dhananjayans in 2003.
Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Academy honoured Prof Janrdhanan with the title of “Kala Prathiba” in 2006.
Narada Gana sabha honour in 2012.
Kalasri from Kerala Sangeetha Natak Academy in 2012.
Acaharya Choodamani from Sri Krishnagana Sabha in 2013.

National Sangeeth Natak Akademi Award in 2014[edit]

Karur Natyanjali Trusted presented him with the lifetime achievement Award in 2018.
He has been conferred with the title "NATYA KALASIKHAMANI" by the Indian Fine Arts Society Chennai in 2019.
“Nritya Kala Sagaram” from Siva Foundation in 2020.

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