Indira Rajan, a multifaceted, illustrious exponent of Bharatanatyam, hails from a traditional family of dancers and musicians, steeped in the musical and dance lineage of Karaikal. While her grandmother was a renowned Sadir artist, Indira’s mother Sundarakamakshi was a well-known Carnatic vocalist. Indira was born in 1943, and started learning Bharatanatyam as a child from Kutralam Ganesa Pillai. She made her debut when she was barely nine. Moving to Madras in 1955, she honed her dancing skills with Tirugokarnam Kalyanasundaram. From then on she ventured into her artistic career as a performer for a few decades, before establishing herself as a teacher of repute.