Chitra Visweswran: A Name Synonymous With Bharatanatyam

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Chitra Visweswran is a leading classical dancer in India. Her name has become synonymous with the exceptional dance form, Bharatanatyam. She has transformed the unique art form to an elite level through her unmatchable performance and choreography. She has added an intellectual quest and aesthetic sensibility to the pristine purity of this traditional dance style.

Chitra Visweswran started to learn the first steps of Bharatanatyam at a tender age of three years from her mother Smt. Rukmini Padmanabhan. Later she had the good fortune to receive training in Western Classical Ballet in London where her father Sri. N. Padmanabhan was Railway Adviser at the Indian High Commission.

Chitra Visweswran\'s quest to master the intense soul of the art form lead her to the beautiful dance forms of Manipuri and Kathak in Calcutta. Her real talent flourished to the fullest extent under the rigorous training of Smt. T.A.Rajalakshmi for nearly 10 years. In 1970 she received the National Scholarship for advanced study in Bharatanatyam from the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India. She then trained under Vazhuvoor Ramaiyya Pillai that has widened her aesthetic sense.

Chitra Visweswran\'s dance presentations include innovative ideas and addresses issues in the society.

Chitra Visweswran proved her talent in choreography at a very young age of eleven by choreographing the life of Saint Thyagaraja in the format of a Varnam, the most demanding of pieces in the Bharatanatyam repertoire. Her first major dance drama Devi Ashta Rasa Malika in 1980, took the aestheticians\' hearts by storm. Her solo performances Krishnanjali , Saptha Sapthi, Viswam Vishnumayam, Naveena Niroopanna, Sadaa Venkatesa Smarami etc. have reached to the very heart of aestheticians.

Chitra Visweswran\'s dance presentations include innovative ideas and addresses issues in the society . Her Sthree Sakthi is dedicated to all the powerful Indian women from Sita to Jhansi Ki Rani. Devaki Pulambal as presented by Chitra Visweswran took a different view point that of Devaki, Krishna's natural mother, instead of the much presented Yashodha. She also presented a dance form on the river Ganga presenting it as a representative of the ethos of India.

Chitra's exploration and experimentation of the dance-theatre medium began with her production Panchali based on Subramania Bharathi's Panchali Sabadam. She draw the inspiration for this new style from the folk Therukoothu. She also suggested that a dancer should represent the character through mime, gesture and stance rather than the adornment in different costumes. Her other productions Raghuvamsa Thilakam\' , \'Ayothi Mannan\', \'Dwarakanatham Bhaje\', \'Dasavatharam\', \'Nritya Srinkhala\', etc. have been highly appreciated.

Chitra Visweswran started Chidambram Academy Of Performing Arts in 1975 to promote the Indian classical art. Dance, music, nattuvangam, theory, stagecraft, lighting, teaching methodology, philosophy of movement and a deep study of the cognate art are trained here. Since the institution aim to train talented artists, admission to this institution is highly selective and restricted. The institution also offers various national and international scholarships and fellowships to its students. Chitra now has an added motive in her life to collect funds for RASA, an institution using creative dance and music therapy for special children with learning disabilities.

Chitra Visweswran is married to R.Visweswaran, Carnatic vocalist, composer and exponent of the musical instrument Santoor. She has been awarded Kalaimani at a very young age. She is the recipient of Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Nritya Choodamani, Nritya Vilas, Natanamani and the most prestigious, the Padmashri award. On the occasion of the 50th year of Independence, she was awarded the titles of Mahila Shiromani and Stree Ratna. Chitra also occupies the Rabindranath Tagore Chair of Fine Arts at the University of Madras and is the first dancer to do so. Her majestic dance forms will enthrall the audience forever.