About
Biography
Smitha Rajan is a senior Mohiniyattam exponent with deep roots in one of the most respected classical dance families of India. She is the granddaughter of the late Guru Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, a legendary Kathakali artist, and the late Guru Kalamandalam Kallyanikutty Amma, widely regarded as the mother of Mohiniyattam. Her early training was shaped within this lineage, receiving direct guidance from her grandparents, her mother, Guru Sreedevi Rajan, and her aunt Guru Kala Vijayan.
From a young age, Smitha Rajan travelled extensively with her grandmother, assisting in lecture demonstrations and master classes on Mohiniyattam. Her abhinaya and gesture vocabulary were refined under the guidance of Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, enabling her to portray multiple characters within the Eka Aharya (single-costume) format of Mohiniyattam. Alongside her primary focus on Mohiniyattam, she also received early training in Kathakali, Bharatanatyam, and Kuchipudi.
As a performer, she has remained committed to the classical and purist tradition of Mohiniyattam, closely following the stylistic framework documented and developed by Kalamandalam Kallyanikutty Amma. Her work as a performer and educator has earned her several honors, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar. Over the past several decades, she has performed at major dance festivals in India and internationally, and her work has received critical attention in publications such as The New York Times.
Smitha Rajan has been teaching dance for more than three decades and has trained students across India, the United States, and other countries, many of whom are established performers today. She currently divides her time between India and the USA and offers in-person and virtual training for students dedicated to learning Mohiniyattam in its traditional form.
She is also known for a wide range of thematic and narrative productions, including Krishnaayam, Dasavatar, Ramasagaram, Prutha, Ramayanam, Stree Shakthi in Mohiniyattam, Shiva Shakthi, Jhansi Rani Saptham, Tribute to Masters, Ramayana Saptham, and Karuna, the latter produced by Doordarshan. Through performance, choreography, and teaching, Smitha Rajan continues to contribute significantly to the global presence and continuity of Mohiniyattam.