Methil Devika

Methil Devika (born 1976) is an Indian classical dancer and research supervisor.[3] She is currently doing a Post Doctoral Fellowship at ISRO's Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, working on an arts-integrated-advance-science project ideated by her.[4] She has also been awarded Kerala Chief minister's Nava Kerala Post Doctoral Fellowship, 2023 for conducting research on Temple Terrain as a New Performance Space for the Woman Dancer: A Study on How the Modern Woman Reinvents her Art in Esoteric Spaces.[5]

Methil Devika
Born1976 (1976) (age 47)
Dubai, Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
NationalityIndian
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Performing artist
  • Researcher
Known forIndian classical dance, Mohiniyattam
Spouses
  • Rajeev Nair
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2002; div. 2004)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2013; div. 2021)​
    [1][2]
Parents
  • N. Rajagopalan
  • Methil Rajeswari

Early life

Devika has two elder sisters Radhika Pillai (Educator and Art Critic), and Methil Renuka [3]who works as Editor, Forbes. Renowned writer Methil Radhakrishnan is her mother's brother. Writer V. K. N.'s wife Vedavathi is her mother's sister.[3]

Devika completed a Ph.D. in Mohiniyattam from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli.[6] She has an M.A. in Performing Arts from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata and an MBA from the University of Madras.[7]

Performances

Devika has given solo performances in dance festivals in India, including Khajuraho International Festival.[8]

She has performed at the Madras Music Academy,[9] Mudra Festival[10] and Nishagandhi Dance Festival.[11] She has performed in Boston,[12] New York City, Texas, Philadelphia, Laos,[13] Chiang Mai,[14] Sydney, and Melbourne.[15]

Documentation

In 2018, Devika created the short film documentary Sarpatatwam or The Serpent Wisdom. She set the lyrics to music, choreographed and performed the dance, also serving as co-director and co-producer.[16] The film was voted into the contention list of the Academy Awards in 2018.[17] It premiered at the Prestige Theatres, LA and was also screened at various international theatres. It was also the opening film at the National Film Archive of India, Pune.

Her work Ahalya which was commissioned by Sampradaya Dance Company also opened to world premiere in May 2021. It was based on reflections in solitude done during Covid lockdown and the music and dance being composed by herself.[18]

Awards

Devika's archival film was voted into the Academy Awards Contention List 2018.[19][17] She won two national awards (Ustad Bismillah Yuva Puraskar for Mohiniyattam 2007[20] and the Devadasi Award from the Minister of Orissa in 2010[21]). She received the state honours Kshetrakala Akademy Award 2020[22] and the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award 2011.[23][24]

She received the Best Dancer Award of the Mid‐Year Fest from Madras Music Akademy in 2016.[25] She is empanelled into SPIC‐MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) in 2010.[26][27] She is empanelled artiste for Mohiniyattam at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.[28] Her recent award was the Dakshinamurthy Puraskar which she received in 2022 along with Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Sivamani.[29]

References
  1. "ഇത് ഞങ്ങള്‍ കാത്തിരുന്ന വിവാഹം - articles,infocus_interview". Mathrubhumi.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  2. Radhika C. Pillai (9 November 2013). "My marriage with Mukesh is an arranged one: Methil Devika". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  3. "methil devika". eShe. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  4. "Women have come a long way, but a little more improvement won't do harm: Kerala Minister Mridula Ramesh". India Today. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  5. "GOVERNMENT OF KERALA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2023.
  6. "Dancing to the tunes of life". Deccan Chronicle. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  7. "Dancing to the tunes of life". Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  8. "So much divine energy in Khajuraho: Methil Devika". INDIA New England News. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  9. Kochi, RITZ (22 January 2019). "Redefining Dance : A Chat With Dr.Methil Devika! | RITZ". Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  10. Nisha (17 September 2010). "Exquisite recitals". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  11. Nampoothiri, Hareesh N. (5 February 2015). "Potpourri of dance". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  12. "Mohiniyattam recital by Methil Devika in Boston!! at Chinmaya Mission Auditorium, Andover, MA | Indian Event". events.sulekha.com. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  13. "First Indian Classical Dance Show Debuts in Vientiane Capital – Lao Tribune". 26 January 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  14. "Indian Dance and Fashion Show at Central festival". Chiang Mai Citylife. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  15. admin. "Methil Devika Dance workshop in Melbourne". Indian Events | Movies | Australian. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  16. Nagarajan, Saraswathy (20 September 2018). "In tune with the dance of the serpent". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  17. Slayton, Jeff (26 September 2018). "Sarpathathwa -The Serpent Wisdom: A Beautiful Short Film by Indian Classical Dancer Methil Devika". L.A. Dance Chronicle. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  18. Kumar, P. k Ajith (6 May 2021). "When life imitates art during pandemic". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  19. "Review - Sarpatatwam - Padma Jayaraj". narthaki.com. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  20. "Methil Devika interacts with students in the city - Times of India". The Times of India. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  21. "Keeping a tradition alive". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  22. "Thiraseela.com". thiraseela.com. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  23. "Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Dance". Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  24. "Methil Devika". Mathrubhumi. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  25. Srikanth, Rupa (8 July 2016). "Dance of grace". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  26. "Samskriti: Collaborations With SPIC MACAY | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham". www.amrita.edu. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  27. "Forgotten moves". Hindustan Times. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  28. "Dr. Methil Devika | Indian Council for Cultural Relations". www.iccr.gov.in. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  29. "Singer Nanchamma, 3 others to receive awards". The Times of India. 13 December 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
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