Thiruvananthapuram, March 6:
For more than two decades, Natyaveda in Thiruvananthapuram has been quietly shaping the landscape of classical performing arts education in Kerala. Established in 2000, the institution has grown from a small collective of artists and art enthusiasts into a respected cultural centre dedicated to preserving and promoting India’s rich artistic heritage.
Registered under the Charitable Societies Act (Reg No. 1494/04) and affiliated with the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Natyaveda has built a reputation as a vibrant platform for artists, scholars, students and connoisseurs of classical arts. Over the years, the organisation has conducted numerous workshops, seminars, lecture demonstrations and festivals that celebrate and deepen engagement with Indian classical traditions.
At the heart of Natyaveda’s journey is Smt. Kalamandalam Sony, the founder and guiding force behind the institution. A trained classical dancer and dedicated teacher, Sony established Natyaveda with the vision of creating a nurturing environment where students could learn and experience the depth of India’s performing arts traditions.
Sony received her early training under Sri Rajan Master before pursuing formal studies at Kerala Kalamandalam, one of India’s most renowned institutions for classical performing arts. There she completed a four-year diploma in classical dance with specialisation in Mohiniyattam. She later expanded her academic training by obtaining a degree in Bharatanatyam and a diploma in Kathak from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya (IKSVV), widely known as Khairagarh University in Chhattisgarh, the country’s first university exclusively dedicated to performing arts.
Her journey as a teacher began in 1997 when she founded a dance school in her hometown Ponnani. After moving to Thiruvananthapuram, she established the Natyaveda Centre for Performing Arts in 2000, which gradually evolved into a major centre for classical arts education.
A major milestone in the institution’s development came in 2010 when Natyaveda received affiliation from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya and was upgraded to Natyaveda College of Performing Arts. The college follows a unique educational model that blends the traditional Gurukula system of learning with structured university-recognised academic programmes.
Today, the college offers four-year Bachelor of Performing Arts (B.P.A.) programmes in Bharatanatyam, Carnatic vocal music and Hindustani vocal music. It also conducts diploma courses in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Carnatic and Hindustani vocal music, Sitar, Tabla and Yoga.
For younger students, the institution runs specialised programmes such as Geetanjali (Junior and Senior), designed to introduce children to the fundamentals of music and performing arts at an early age.
Natyaveda has achieved several notable distinctions in performing arts education. It is the only affiliated college of Khairagarh University in South India, and the first institution in Kerala to offer university-certified performing arts courses for students from Class 5 onwards. The institution is also the only centre in the state offering university-affiliated diploma programmes in Sitar, Tabla and Kathak.
Students trained at Natyaveda have brought national recognition to the institution, securing top ranks in Bharatanatyam examinations conducted by Khairagarh University. The institution’s performers have also participated in the prestigious Khairagarh Festival, organised jointly by the Government of Chhattisgarh and the university.
Natyaveda has further benefited from the guidance of renowned theatre personality Padma Vibhushan Kavalam Narayana Panicker, who served as the institution’s guru and patron. His artistic vision inspired several initiatives of the organisation, including the Mohini Festival, a dance festival dedicated to expanding and enriching the repertoire of Mohiniyattam.
Alongside her role as an educator and institution builder, Kalamandalam Sony continues to perform actively, particularly in Mohiniyattam. Her performances have been presented at major cultural events across India, including the Mamallapuram Festival, Khairagarh Festival, Shilparamam Festival and the Margazhi Festival.
Supporting the institution’s academic and administrative activities is Sundar, the Secretary of Natyaveda College of Performing Arts. A scholar and artist with diverse interests in music, theatre, cinema and media, Sundar developed a passion for classical music from an early age. He received his initial training in Carnatic music under Kongad Madhava Menon Bhagavatar before pursuing Hindustani music and learning the Sitar under Shri K.K. Subramanian. He later continued advanced training under Dr. P. Janardhanan, Ustad Ahmed Ibrahim and Pandit Pritam Banerjee.
Sundar’s artistic interests also extended to theatre and cinema. After completing his education, he studied film at the Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu, where he graduated with the prestigious N. S. Krishnan Endowment Gold Medal. He later worked as a lecturer at the Southern Film Institute in Thiruvananthapuram and served as visiting faculty at several institutions, including C-DIT study centres, St. Joseph’s College of Communication in Thiruvalla and the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, where he conducted workshops on dramaturgy and film acting.
His career in media spans nearly 15 years, during which he worked with television networks such as Asianet and Kairali TV, producing and presenting various programmes. Sundar has also worked in the film industry as an associate director and actor in several films.
A graduate in Public Administration with postgraduate degrees in Psychology and Malayalam literature, Sundar now serves as Secretary of Natyaveda College of Performing Arts, contributing to its academic and cultural initiatives.
With its combination of academic training, cultural programmes and artistic collaborations, Natyaveda continues to play an important role in nurturing India’s classical arts. Guided by its philosophy of “Arts for a Better World,” the institution remains committed to fostering creativity, cultural awareness and artistic excellence among future generations.
