E. Krishna Iyer

E. Krishna Iyer (9 August 1897 – January 1968) was an Indian lawyer, freedom-fighter, classical artist and activist. He was the follower of traditional Isaivellalar practitioners of Sadir, also known as Bharatanatyam.

Early life

Krishna Iyer was born on 9 August 1897 in a

On completion of his graduation, he entered a drama troupe in which he enacted female parts. He developed an avid interest in classical arts and also studied carnatic music during this time.^[1]

The Bharatanatyam revival movement

Krishna Iyer's involvement with the Bharatanatyam revival movement began when he joined a theatrical company called Suguna Vilasa Sabha and learnt sadir, a sensuous and less respectful form of Bharatnatyam practised by

While strongly condemning the devadasi system, Krishna Iyer tried to sever the dance's association with the practice by encouraging Brahmin girls to learn and practice the art and by eradicating expressions and movements that conveyed sexually-explicit meanings in cooperation with Rukmini Devi Arundale.[2] The stigma associated with Bharatanatyam, however, did not disappear altogether until the passing of the Devadasi Dedication Abolition Act in 1947.^[3]

Awards

• 1966 – Padma Shri from the Government of India
• Sangeetha Kalasikhamani, 1957 by The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai

Death

Krishna Iyer died in 1968 at the age of 71.

Notes

References

• Amanda J. Weidman (2006). Singing the classical, voicing the modern: the postcolonial politics of music in South India. Duke University Press.
  ISBN 978-0-8223-3620-4
  .
• Krishnangini — Neeraja Nagarajan. "The Transition from temples to auditorium". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2009.