Kalamandalam Vimala Menon
Kalamandalam Vimala Menon was awarded the Padma Shri for her contribution to the promotion and revival of classical dances, especially Mohiniyattam. The Kerala Natya Academy she founded in Thiruvananthapuram in 1972 was the training ground for many dancers who later became noted exponents in Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi.
Ms. Menon, who started practicing classical dance and music from the age of 10, joined Kerala Kalamandalam on the advice of poet Vallathol Narayan Menon. Although trained in various forms of dance, she focused her attention on Mohiniyattam as she hails from Kerala. When she began training students for the Kerala School Arts Festival, she introduced changes in the costume and presentation of Mohiniyattam, which in later years came to be accepted as standards of the art form.
“I consider it a moment of great happiness, especially when I received the Kerala Sree award from the state government last year. I am 84 years old and have 63 years of experience in the field of dance. It is because of my pupils that I have come to be recognized. I believe my colleagues and pupils have contributed to these honors more than anything else,” she told the media after being selected for the Padma Shri.
She was previously awarded the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 1991 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006.
Published – 25 Jan 2026 21:41 IST
