Saroja Kamakshi (artistic director and manager) has been closely associated with Malavika Sarukkai’s dance career and has been touring extensively with her troupe for more than two decades. At every stage, from conceptualization to the final presentation, she works closely with Malavika as creative collaborator and co-ordinator.
Nagarajan Bhagyalakshmi (vocalist). A degree holder in music, she has been awarded the title of Sangeetha Siromani from Chennai University. She has earned with distinction her diploma in vocal music and in veena playing from Kalakshetra College of fine Arts, Chennai. Gifted with a melodious voice, Bhagyalakshmi brings to her music the dignity of the classical Carnatic tradition, a feeling for the nuances of mood and a keen sense of rhythm and laya.
Anikode S. Murali (nattuvangam and vocal) hails from a family of musicians. In nattuvangam, his sense of precision and his feeling for tala enables him to establish a close rapport with the dance. An All-India Radio artist , Murali is also an accomplished singer. In addition, he has developed skills in the playing of the ghatam and the morsing.
Palghat K. Ranganathan (mridangam) has trained under renowned guru Dr. T.K. Murthy and was awarded a first class diploma in mridangam playing from Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts, Chennai. He has also developed skills in the playing of allied percussion instruments, the ghatam and the kanjeera. As a percussionist, he has very good command of tala, playing cross thythms to add depth and excitement to the music.
Natarajan Sigamani (violin). Sigamani‘s
passion for the violin drew him into a career as an accompanying violinist participating
in major dance events all over the country. Hailing from a family of musicins,
Sigamani had the privilege of training under his uncle, the renowned musicologist,
Dr. S. Ramanathan, and his father S. Natarajan. As an accompanist, his sensitivity
to the moods of the dance is a great asset as are his imagninative improvisations.