Mumbayile Malayali Prathibhakal is a regular feature of Kerala in Mumbai, dedicated to celebrating the lives, achievements, and enduring contributions of Malayalees who have distinguished themselves in Mumbai through talent, dedication, perseverance, and hard work.
For decades, members of the Malayali community have played a significant role in shaping the social, cultural, educational, and economic landscape of Mumbai. Their contributions span diverse fields such as literature, arts, music, cinema, business, education, science, social service, sports, and public life. Their journeys of commitment and excellence continue to inspire generations and remain a source of pride for the community.
Through this feature, Kerala in Mumbai seeks to document and honour these remarkable personalities by sharing their stories of achievement, resilience, service, and leadership, thereby preserving an important chapter in the collective memory of Mumbai’s Malayali community.
In this edition of Mumbaiyile Malayali Prathibhakal, we are proud to present Manasi S. Nair, a well-known Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and teacher who has made a meaningful contribution to the world of classical dance in Mumbai. Featured as the Artist of the Month in the Kerala in Mumbai October 2014 issue, Manasi is also the founder and director of Tapasya School of Classical Dance and Music.
Trained under the guidance of the illustrious Guru Ananta Narayanan, Manasi completed her arangetram under his tutelage and went on to receive advanced training under Guru Ramachary Bhagavathar. With a strong foundation in the Nalanda tradition, she has dedicated herself to teaching Bharatanatyam and has trained more than 300 students. Her approach to dance extends beyond performance, as she has also worked towards using classical dance as a form of therapy and support for differently abled children and slow learners.
As a choreographer, Manasi has created several dance ballets, including Siva Durga, Dashavataram, Dev Mahatmyam, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Krishna Leela. She has performed at numerous prestigious venues and cultural programmes in Mumbai and other cities, and has also represented Indian classical dance internationally through recitals and cultural programmes in countries including Thailand and Cambodia. Her performances have taken her to platforms ranging from cultural festivals and auditoriums to the Indian Consulate and other prominent institutions.
Her dedication to dance and social causes has earned her several recognitions, including the Natya Kala Ratna honour from the Shivaji Cultural Society and the Excellence in Art Award from Borivli Malayali Samajam. Through Tapasya and her continued performances, teaching and choreography, Manasi S. Nair has built a lasting connection between classical art, education and social consciousness, making her a noteworthy figure among the Malayali artistic community in Mumbai.
http://keralainmumbai.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/manasi-nair.pdf