E. Krishna Iyer, a visionary lawyer and cultural revivalist from Madras, is credited with launching the first formal campaign to revive Bharatanatyam during the 1920s, when the classical dance form faced sharp decline due to rising anti-nautch sentiments.
In 1926, Iyer took the bold step of learning Bharatanatyam from Natesa Iyer of Melattur, Kerala, to challenge the stigma surrounding the dance, then performed exclusively by devadasis and viewed with social disdain. Over the next six years, he tirelessly wrote articles, delivered lectures, and actively promoted public performances of devadasis outside temple premises.
His persistent advocacy laid the foundation for Bharatanatyam’s resurgence as a respected art form. A pivotal moment came in 1935, when legendary dancer T. Balasaraswati performed at the All-India Music Conference in Varanasi. Her performance, backed by Iyer’s movement, transformed public perception and cemented Bharatanatyam’s place on the national stage as a refined and revered classical tradition.
