Madurai R. Muralidaran

Madurai R. Muralidaran is a dancer, composer, choreographer, writer and director best known for his compositions for Bharatanatyam dancers and his elaborate dance musical productions.

Biography

He received the Kalaimamani award from the Tamil Nadu state government for 2019. Bharath Kalachar has gave him the title ''Kala Seva Bharathi'' for his contributions to the field of Indian performing arts, Kartik Fine Awards gabe him the Kartik Award of Excellence in 2021 and Pothy's Parambara Classic Awards named him ''Parambara Noothana'' for his contributions to music composition and dance theatre. Muralidaran was certified by Guinness, Asia and India Book of Records, for teaching 359 students an alarippu in Sankeerna Jaathi Dhruva Thalam in 2019, composing 25 varnams in 25 days in 2020 and leading 125 dancers worldwide to present 50 unique jathis on a virtual platform in 2021. He composed, choreographed and taught 698 people a varnam on Tamil Annai (Mother Tamil), setting his third record in the ''Guinness Book of World Records'', an effort which also raised Rs. 10 lakh for the Tamil Nadu Covid Relief Fund. Muralidarn organized a World Record Union record for the most people dancing with swords simultaneously (Hybrid) both online and in person with 1346 members at Jeppiaar University, Tamil Nadu (India) on 9 June 2024.

Productions

Muralidaran's productions, incorporating both dance and drama, are based on both traditional Hindu mythology and stories from ancient and contemporary Tamil literature.

In November 2009, he debuted ''Silapathigaram'', a production based on the Sangam Tamil epic by Ilango Adigal, and which has since been performed in the US to and New Zealand. He staged Amarar Kalki's historic thriller Sivakamiyin Sabadam in a 2013 production ''The Hindu'' said was a "zero-error show". His other large-scale productions include ''Yagnaseni'' (based on the story of Draupadi from the Mahabharatha), ''Avadhara Purushan'' (based on the Kamba Ramayana), and ''Yadhava Madhava'' (based on the story of Krishna). His production ''Karna'', centered on the generous yet flawed anti-hero of the Mahabharata, which debuted in Chennai in April 2018.

He produced ''The Jewel of Justice'' for the organization Vision Aid.

July 23, 2023 Muralidaran staged the premiere of his production, "Vaayu Putra - The Son of the Wind" in Littleton, MA to a packed audience. All praised the production for its dances, acting, visuals, and beyond. As with all his productions, Muralidaran himself handled all aspects of the production - music composition, lyrics, choreography, graphics/visuals, production and direction. He also played the titular character of Hanuman (aka Vaayu Putra). The show was then staged in Toronto, Canada as well as Edison, New Jersey. December 23, 2023 saw the staging of Vaayu Putra in Chennai at the Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall. The production had a full house despite being staged during the busy Marghazi season in Chennai, and ended with a standing ovation! Choreography and direction had been assisted by his wife, Smt. Chithra Muralidaran and daughter Kavya Muralidaran. Vaayu Putra was showcased successfully again in Chennai on January 6, 2024 under the auspices of Brahma Gana Sabha Mylapore, Chennai.

On July 21, 2024 Muralidaran staged "The Dancer's Pledge: The Saga of Shivagami" in Boston where he again teamed up with Vision Aid for an annual fundraiser for the charity. Muralidaran staged "Cosmic Rhythm: Journey Through Dasavatharam" in Ontario on August 17, 2024.

January 6, 2025 Muralidaran debuted his production "Soodi Kodutha Duarkodi" that was focused on Andal at Brahma Gana Sabha's Narada Gana Sabha main hall in Chennai. February 8, 2025 Muralidaran's new production "Sakuntalam - A Dance Musical" based on Kalidas' story of Shakuntala (from the epic Mahabharata) was presented in Chennai. Sakuntalam was a notable production for Muralidaran collaborating with the Budapest Live Orchestra. Noted dance magazine Sruti gave the production a good review saying "Muralidaran has meticulously crafted each segment of the dance musical with remarkable detail.".

Notable compositions

Muralidaran has composed and released more than 120 audio albums exclusively for the field of Bharathanatyam. His dance music albums are used by Bharatha Natyam dancers worldwide. He composes both the music and lyrics for his pieces, which reflect innovations in thalam (rhythm patterns), ragam (melodies) and themes. In 2001 Muralidaran was recognized by the prominent Indian music and dance critic Subbudu for "ushering in a new era of composing varnams for the Bharatanatyam repertoire with new themes and... encompassing varied rhythmic cycles with matching lyrics."

Rhythmic repertoire

Having studied mridangam (percussion) in addition to his pursuit of Bharatha Natyam, Muralidharan compositions explore the nuances of rhythm theory. He plans to have composed full margams (repertoires) in all 35 thalams of the Carnatic Sooladhi Saptha thalam system by 2020, with margams in 20 unique thalams completed to date.

Since 2006, Muralidaran has composed several entire margams (traditional repertoires) in rare thalams, including ''Ashta Dasa Margam'', composed in misra jati ata thalam, ''Akhanda Margam'', composed in kanda jati ata thalam, and ''Nava Dhruvam'', composed in sakeerna jati dhruva thalam, the longest thalam cycle with 29 aksharas.

Muralidaran has directed a number of dance festivals and record-setting performances. In 2018, Muralidaran highlighted his exploration of rhythm with a pair of dance festivals. In April 2018, his rhythm festival ''Chaturvidham'' presented four new margams each completely set to a rare thalam. The festival culminated with a massive live class with over 320 students learning the nattuvangam and choreography for an alarippu set to Sankeerna Jaathi Dhruva Thalam, the longest thalam in the Carnatic system. This class set Guinness, India Book and Asia Book records for the largest live Bharatha Natyam dance lesson. In November 2018, Muralidharan presented ''Dhimahi'', a three-day dance festival described as "dynamic meditations on Laya" (rhythm), featuring new margams set to 5 more rare thalams. In addition, renown guest artistes Shobana, Lavanya Shankar, Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala, Anitha Guha, Uma Murali, Rukmini Vijayakumar and Srekala Bharath showcased choreography in their own styles for some of Muralidharan's other compositions.  

Melodic repertoire

In addition to composing individual songs in all 35 thalams of the Carnatic Sooladhi Saptha thalam system, Muralidaran has also composed over 120 varnams, and jathswarams in all 72 Melakarata Ragas. Creating compositions in all 72 ragas is an accomplishment that Muralidharan shares with only one other, M. Balamuralikrishna. He likes to explore rare ragas in his compositions, such as Chandrajyoti, Ganamurthi, and Madhyamavati.  .

Thematic repertoire

His unique compositions include a dance depicting daily life to the soundtrack of a heartbeat, a varnam on the Sun God (Surya), a shabdam on Jesus, a depiction of Krishna's dance upon the five-headed snake Kalinga, kauthuvams on Mother and Father, a keerthanam on the Indian Independence movement and pieces on women's empowerment. His compositions are used frequently by Bharatha Natyam dancers of different styles and from diverse regions. He has written a number of new compositions in the kauthuvam style, including ones in praise of the Hindu deities Nandi, Ayyappan and Venkateswara.

Muralidharan's thematic repertoires include ''Sri Anjeneyam'', which centers on the stories of Lord Hanuman and ''Nayaka'', which explores the different roles in life for males from boyhood through adult.

Key Titles

Amongst his many awards, below are some of the most notable titles garnered by Muralidaran for his excellence in the arts and theater.
* Kalaimamani Award (2019) - from Tamil Nadu state government
* Kala Seva Bharathi (2018-2019) - from Bharath Kalachar
* Kartik Award of Excellence (2021) - from Kartik Fine Awards
* Mayura Nrithya Sagaram (2022)
* Natya Sadhanai Chemmal (2022) - from Abhai Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India
* Kalai Chemmal (2022) - from Sangamam Global Academy
* Lifetime Achievement Award (2022) - from Abhai Association of Bharatanatayam Artistes of India
* Lifetime Achievement Award (2023) - from Niruthia Nithyalaya of Chennai and Natyanjali Academy Association of Malaysia
* Natya Achaarya Choodamani (2023) - from Puducherry Natyanjali Trust
* Narkali Nayagan (2023) - from Niruthya Kalanjali Academy of Fines
* Nruthya Surabhi (2023) - Surabhi Awards Bangalore
* Natana RASA Maamani" (2025) - Kaalaa Rasa Mahotsavam

World Records

Below is a list of the records held by Muralidaran.

Asia Book of World Records

* April 1, 2018 - "The Largest Bharatanatayam Dance Lesson"
* January 31, 2021 - "Maximum Participants Performing Bharatanatyam jatis (50 jatis) on Virtual Platform"
* May 23, 2021 - "25 Varnams Composed in 25 Days"
* October 10, 2021 - "Bharatanatyam Jathis performed online by dancers for the longest duration"

Guinness Book of World Records

* April 1, 2018 - "The Largest Bharatanatayam Dance Lesson"
* April 18, 2021 - "Most people in an online video relay performing a choreographed dance."
* August 1, 2021 - "Most people performing a choreographed dance online simultaneously"

India Book of World Records

* April 1, 2018 - "The Largest Bharatanatayam Dance Lesson"
* January 31, 2021 - "Maximum Participants Performing Bharatanatyam jatis (50 jatis) on Virtual Platform"
* May 23, 2021 - "25 Varnams Composed in 25 Days"
* October 10, 2021 - "Bharatanatyam Jathis performed online by dancers for the longest duration"

World Records Union

* October 10, 2021 - "Bharatanatyam Jathis performed online by dancers for the longest duration"
* June 9, 2024 - "Largest number of swords in hand as a tribute to the first woman freedom fighter Rani Velunaachiyaar"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muralidaran, Madurai
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
Indian founders
Indian composers