| Date of Birth/Age |
May 9, 1953 |
| Education |
MBA, IIM Ahmedabad
Ph.D., Gujarat University
D. Litt., Norwich |
| Field of expertise |
Bharatanatyam Dance & Kuchipudi Dance |
| Academic/Professional activities |
A dancer, choreographer par excellence, Mallika has been lead soloist at the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, Ahmedabad since 1977.
She has performed throughout India as well as East and South East Asia, Australia, Africa, Middle East, Western Europe and USA.
Besides she has been commissioned to perform at major festivals and programmes in the country and abroad which include:
The Mask, Florence, Italy(2003)
An Idea named Mira, Los Angeles, with Daksha Mashruwala:Forum of World Religions (2002)
Tic Toc, Beijing, as part of Indo-China Tour (2002)
The Journey Inward: Devi Mahatmya, Ahmedabad (2001)
Tillana: The Celebration, Singapore, as part of Festival of India (2001)
Kaun, Singapore, as part of the Festival of India (2001)
In Search of the Goddess, Washington, Smithsonian Institution (2000)
Ija: the Myth of Myths, Ahmedabad (1999) Ashwamedh, Ahmedabad (1999)
The Conference of the Birds, Ahmedabad (1998)
Cityscapes, Ahmedabad (1998)
The Leopard, Ahmedabad (1998)
Silappadikaram, Ahmedabad(1997)
Krishna: The Musical, Ahmedabad(1997)
The Story of Champaner, Champaner, Gujarat Historical Society (1995)
Songs of Tagore, with Jonathan Hollander Battery Dance Company, New York (1995)
Ritual Fragments, Ceremony I, Worlds within & Without, Festival of Perth(1995)
Transposed Heads, Ahmedabad (1993)
Changing Planes, London (1993)
Jazz Tillana, as part of Indian Summit for Festival of Perth
Mean Streets on Earth and Thattakazhi as part of Indian Summit for Festival of Perth (1993)
Structures, Ahmedabad (1992)
Shakuntala, Ahmedabad (1992)
Germinations, Ahmedabad (1991)
Mothers Daughters and other Women, Nottingham and Itan Kahani, London (1991)
Sua’s Daughters, Ahmedabad (1990)
Shakti: The Power of Women, London (1989)
A complete art-person her other historic abilities include as Director:
Ekta – A theatre production with 14 street children, on non-violence, performed in India and in USA (2002)
Asopalav – A series of 30 music videos on development themes for the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India (2001-2002)
Rangmanch – A weekly drama program on TARA, Gujarati TV Channel (2001-2002)
Storyteller – Weekly serial for children on STAR TV (1998-99)
Films for local government bodies on health education (1990)
Films for Ministry of Environment on different classical environment themes using dance and puppetry: Ganga, Hamsini, Karkasha, Aspirations, Meghadoota, Revelation (1986-88)
Series of educational films using traditional performance techniques for the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India (1986); as actor (30 films) including:
Dany (2002) in Malayalam
Peter Brook’s The Mahabharata(1989) in English Kahkasha, (1986) in Hindi,
Amma (1980) in Hindi
Sheesha (1980) in Hindi
Ajwaali Raat Amaasni (1980) in Gujarati
Mena Gurjari (1976) in Gujarati
Himalay Se Ooncha (1974) in Hindi
Kalankini (1973) in Hindi
Mutthi Bhar Chawal (1972) in Hindi
Sonal (1972) in Hindi and as a TV anchor/quiz master/interviewer of a host of Doordarshan, STAR TV and ZEE TV programmes. |
| Name of the institution(s)you associated with |
Co- Director, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts
President, CIOFF India (a UNESCO organisation for propagating folk dance)
Sakshi, a Centre opposing violence against women
Sarvodaya Trust (for propagating Gandhian Thought)
National Foundation for India
Board of School net Trust, Mumbai
President, Mahatma Gandhi International School
DPS Board Member
Centre for Environment Education
Vikram Sarabhai Community Science Centre
Member - Governing Board, Academy of Human Resource Development, India
Honorary Member, Academic Council, Nexgen School of Management & Technology, Kolkatta
Member Board of Governors, Society for the Promotion of Rational Thinking
Member, Governing Board, Auroville Foundation |
| Honours/Awards/Fellowships,etc. |
COLLECTIVE ACTIONS HONOUR AWARD
in recognition of her selfless service to India, the Arts, Education and Communal Harmony(2004)
WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2003
by the Indian Merchants’ Chamber
KALA SHIROMANI PURSKAR
by Institute of Economic Studies, New Delhi (2004)
VOCATIONAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
A PAUL HARRIS FELLOW
by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, New Delhi(2004)
SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AWARD
for Creative Dance (2001)
CHEVALIER DES PALMES ACADEMIQUES
French Government (1999)
OJASWINI WOMAN OF THE YEAR 98 AWARD
by Ojaswini, Bhopal
THE FILM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF GUJARAT’S AWARD (1997)
FIE FOUNDATION, ICHLKARANJI
(Maharshtra State) (1996)
GAURAV PURASKAR
by Govt. of Gujarat (1992)
GOLD MEDAL – CIOFF DIJON
for leading the best folk dance group (1984)
FILM CLUB AWARD
for Best Supporting Actress, Katha, (1983)
GOLDEN STAR AWARD – BEST DANCE SOLOIST
Theatre De Champs Elysees, Paris (1977)
BEST FILM ACTRESS AWARD
Mena Gurjari, Govt. of Gujarat (1975)
FILM CRITICS AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS
Muthi Bhar Chawal (1974) |
| Books/Articles authored |
The Feminist Movement in India
Strong Women, Enduring Legacies
Seeing beyond the mask
a weekly column in Gujarati in Gujarat Mitra
An idea named Mira
script for dance theatre production
Scripts for weekly TV Children Serial (52 episodes)
View from the Bridge
a weekly column for the Times of India
Editor, Spectacular India
Jute Handlooms of India
Sufism and Beyond
Romance of Golconda diamonds
From Mustard Fields to Disco Light
Editor: Parvati: Goddess of Love
Image & Imagination:5 Indian Artists,
Performing Arts of Kerala
Krishna as Shrinathji: Miniature Paintings from Nathdwara
Editor: Bhavai and its typical acharya
Monograph, 1982.
Shadow Puppets of India, Monograph, 1982
Co-Author, Understanding Kuchipudi, 1992 |
| Any association with foreign institution(s) |
Asian Cultural Council, New York, USA
Fellowship(2002)
Darpana Performance Group, the Pan Project, London
Battery Dance Company, New York |
