Padma subramanyam was born on 4th February, 1943 in Chennai. Padma father was K. Subramanyam who was a famous director and also a freedom fighter. Her mother was Meenakshi was a lyricist in Sanskrit and Tamil, dancer, choreographer and a flawless instrumentalist who mastered the Violin, Veena and Harmonium. A rare combination of a flawless dancer, choreographer, music composer, singer, research scholar, teacher and author, Dr. Padma Subramanyam is one of the most respected and reputed Bharatanatyam dancers of India.
Padma subramanyam is currently the director of “Nrutyodaya”, which is a dance school that was founded by her father in the year 1942. Padma started to learn dance at Nrutyodaya under the guidance of a teacher named Kausalya. Padma subramanyam was also trained later on by Guru Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai. Her first public performance known as “Arangetram” was in the year 1956.
Padma Subramanyam never let her studies suffer because of her performances and busy schedule. She has got a Bachelor’s degree in Music, Master’s in Ethno Musicology and PHD in dance from Annamalai University. She has been a research scholar and has written a thesis on “Karanas in Indian dance and sculpture”. Padma subramanyam has also designed the sculptures of the Karanas of Lord Shiva with his consort Parvati that are kept in the Nataraja Temple at Satara, located in Maharashtra.
Padma Subramanyam was the first dancer to introduce “Pushpanjali” as a dance piece. Padma has written many articles that have been compiled as “Legacy of a Legend”. Padma subramanyam has also composed a Bengali Varanam, the first of its kind whose lyrics have been penned by Salil Chaudhry.
Awards:
* Padma Bhushan
* Padma Shri
* Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
* Kalaimamani Award from Govt. of Tamil Nadu
* Kalidasa Samman from Govt. of Madhya Pradesh
* Nada Brahmam from Narada Gana Sabha in Chennai
* Bharata Sastra Rakshamani
* Fukuoka Asian Cultural Prize from Japan