Parampara

The sacred guru-shishya tradition — an unbroken chain of knowledge passed through the Pandanallur school to our founder, Acharya Natya Thilakam Smt. Aparna Ram.

◆

“Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara” — The Guru is the creator, sustainer, and transformer of knowledge.

Meenakshisundaram Pillai

Nattuvanar of Pandanallur

1869–1964

The legendary dance guru of Pandanallur village, Thanjavur district, who developed and preserved the Pandanallur bani — renowned for its linear geometry, intense abhinaya, and distinctive adavu technique that allows the salangai to create a resonant sound.

▾

Kalaimamani Late Smt. Ranganayaki Jayaraman

Director, Sri Saraswathy Gana Nilayam

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee

Director of Sri Saraswathy Gana Nilayam, an 85-year-old institution devoted to promoting classical art forms. Her students have established their own dance schools across the world. A Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee and Kalaimamani, she was the guiding light of our parampara.

▾

Smt. Padmini Krishnamurthy

Guru Acharya Ratnakara, Director, Sri Saraswathy Gana Nilayam

Present

Current Director of Sri Saraswathy Gana Nilayam, carrying forward the legacy of the institution. Smt. Aparna Ram continues her advanced tutelage under Smt. Padmini Krishnamurthy, embodying the principle that leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.

▾

Smt. Aparna Ram

Acharya Natya Thilakam, Founder, Sri Saraswathi Nrityalaya

2004–Present

Stepped into the world of Bharatnatyam at the age of 5 under Smt. Ranganayaki Jayaraman. After a decade of tutelage and co-training students with her Guru, Aparna founded Sri Saraswathi Nrityalaya in 2004 in Mumbai. She has performed at the Konark Dance Festival, Chidambaram Natyanjali, Chennai Doordarshan, and venues across India, Colombo, Mauritius, and the US. The school moved to New Jersey in 2014, where it continues to thrive with students performing at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana and other prestigious stages.