Early life
Dr. R.L.V Ramakrishnan was born in Chalakudy. His brother is Kalabhavan Mani. He was a ''Kalaprathibha'' from the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, MG University in 2001. Dr. Ramakrishnan is a male Mohiniyattam dancer from Kerala, known for his contributions to the art form traditionally performed by women. Hailing from a dedicated artistic family, Dr. Ramakrishnan began his classical dance journey at the age of 10 under the tutelage of Guru RLV Anand Master. He has an academic background in Mohiniyattam, having completed both a Diploma and Post-Diploma with First Class honors from RLV College of Music and Fine Arts, RLV College, Tripunithura. He later earned a Masters degree in Mohiniyattam, securing the First Rank from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, and pursued an M.Phil. from Kerala Kalamandalam, Kerala Kalamandalam, Deemed University.Career
Dr. Ramakrishnan obtained a Ph.D. in Mohiniyattam from Kerala Kalamandalam under the guidance of Dr. N. K. Geetha. His doctoral research, titled "Masculine Heritage in Dance: An Enquiry Based on Mohiniyattam," explores the potential of male dancers in this traditionally female-dominated dance form. He is a qualified UGC-NET scholar in Performing Arts and holds the "A Top" grade from Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan Kendra, New Delhi. Dr. Ramakrishnan has performed at many national and international festivals in Kerala and abroad including the Nishagandhi Dance Festival, Soorya Festival, Kerala Tourism, Kerala Cultural Tourism Festival, Mrinalini Sarabhai Dharpana dance festivel Gujarat, Devadasi festival Odisha, AIDA Festival Chhattisgarh and Naadam Festival, among others. In addition to his performances, he has presented papers at UGC-approved national and international seminars on Mohiniyattam. Dr. Ramakrishnan has served as a Guest Lecturer in Mohiniyattam at RLV College of Music and Fine Arts, RLV College and Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS), Kalady. His contributions to Mohiniyattam have earned him several accolades, including the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Puraskaram, the Kerala Kshetra Kala Puraskaram, Devadasi Puraskar from Odisha and the CCRT Senior Fellowship (National) in Mohiniyattam. Dr. Ramakrishnan also earned an M.A. in Bharatanatyam with a Second Rank from Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit. In January 2024, he was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Bharatanatyam at the Kerala Kalamandalam. Dr. Ramakrishnan is the first male Bharatanatyam teacher in the history of the Kerala Kalamandalam.Filmography and discography
Awards and papers
Controversies
In October 2020, Dr. Ramakrishnan was denied a chance to perform Mohiniyattam in the online dance festival program of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Kerala Sangeet Natak Academy which led to controversy. He allegedly attempted suicide after experiencing Caste system in India, caste discrimination.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramakrishnan, R. L. V Living people Mohiniyattam exponents Dancers from Kerala Malayali people Indian male film actors Male actors from Thrissur People from Chalakudy Male actors from Kerala Year of birth missing (living people) Mohiniyattam Teachers of Indian classical dance Artists from Kerala