K. Sivasankar

K. Shivashankar
Born(1948-12-07)7 December 1948
Died28 November 2021(2021-11-28) (aged 72)
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Choreographer, actor
Years active1975–2021
SpouseSuganya
ChildrenVijay Sivasankar, Ajay Sivasankar
Parent(s)Kalyana Sundaram
Komala Amal
HonoursKalaimamani 2020 [1]

K. Shivashankar (7 December 1948 – 28 November 2021) was an Indian dance choreographer who worked in more than 10 languages but majorly with South Indian films, including Tamil films & Telugu films.

Early life[edit]

Shivashankar was born in Govindappa Naicken Street, Parrys, Chennai, on 7 December 1948, to Kalyana Sundaram and Komala Amal. His father was wholesale fruit vendor in Kothawal Chavadi. His backbone was fractured at a very young age in an accident for which and recovered around 8 years of age under the extensive care of his aunts. He was initially home schooled and later studied in Hindu Theological Higher Secondary School, Sowcarpet. He attributed his feminine mannerism to his growing up without much contact with the outside world and where women in family were taking care of him mostly. His father was highly skilled with immense knowledge in Carnatic music & Astrology, but very strict with his children. While his father attended carnatic music festival, Sivasankar was asked to go for drama & dance festivals to represent him. This inspired him to learn dance. He learnt basics in dance from Natraj & Sakunthala, Mylapore. Later, he joined as assistant to dance master Saleem in 1974.[2]

Career[edit]

Having worked on over 800 feature films, Sivasankar has won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreographer for Poove Unakkaga (1996), Vishwa Thulasi (2003), Varalaru (2006) and Uliyin Osai (2008). Sivasankar won the National Film Award for Best Choreography for his work in S. S. Rajamouli's historical drama Magadheera (2008), with the jury noting he was rewarded "for breath taking energy and innovation" in the song "Dheera Dheera Dheera".[3][4] His experience at the official ceremony was reported in the media after he was critical of the delay in allowing him into the venue.[5] In 2003, his super-fast choreography of super hit song Manmadha Raasa for Thiruda Thirudi film was widely talked about. In 2003, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from New International Christian University, Bangalore for his services to dance.[6]

Sivasankar has also appeared in acting roles, notably starring as Ajith Kumar's dance instructor in K. S. Ravikumar's Varalaru (2006). The choreographer was asked to design the dance sequences but also the action sequences and the overall body language of Ajith, to depict him in a feminine way.[7] He later portrayed the role of a Christian missionary in Bala's period drama Paradesi (2013), who works to convert the religion of naive tea workers.[8]

Death[edit]

Sivasankar died from COVID-19 at a private hospital in Hyderabad on 28 November 2021, at the age of 72.[9][10]

Notable filmography[edit]

As choreographer[edit]

As actor[edit]

Year Film Role Notes
2000 James Pandu
2003 Alai Dance master
2003 Popcorn
2004 Gomathi Nayagam Himself
2006 Varalaru Shivashankar's master
2007 Onbadhu Roobai Nottu Dhandapani
2009 Ajantha Multilingual film
2011 Gurusamy Himself
2012 Godfather Shivasankar's master Kannada film
2012 Sudigadu Himself
2013 Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya Sowmiya's father
2013 Paradesi Parisutham
2013 Thillu Mullu Dance master
2013 Potugadu Vaidehi's dance master Telugu film
2014 Enna Satham Indha Neram
2014 Aranmanai
2015 Adhibar Tiger Kothandaraman
2015 Indru Netru Naalai
2016 Arthanari Ramasamy
2017 Enkitta Mothathe
2017 Shivalinga Annalakshmi's Assistant
2017 Nene Raju Nene Mantri Telugu film
2018 Thaanaa Serndha Koottam Ondiveeran
2018 Ghajinikanth
2018 Nadodi Kanavu
2018 Sarkar Election commissioner
2019 Akshara Telugu film
2019 N.T.R: Kathanayakudu Vempati Chinna Satyam Telugu film
2019 Ninu Veedani Needanu Nene Priest Telugu film
2019 Dhilluku Dhuddu 2 Viji's neighbour
2019 Raju Gari Gadhi 3 Colony president Telugu film
2020 Pachai Vilakku
2020 Biskoth Old man
2021 Engada Iruthinga Ivvalavu Naala Master
2022 Hero Dance master Telugu film
Posthumous release
2022 Idiot Vijayasimha Reddy Posthumous release
2023 Bagheera Posthumous release
2023 Ellaam Mela Irukuravan Paathuppan Posthumous release
2023 Nene Naa Telugu film
Posthumous release

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Language Channel
2020 Naga Bhairavi Shivudu Telugu Zee Telugu
2021 Jothi Hakkim Bhai Tamil Sun TV
2021 No.1 Kodalu Himself Telugu Zee Telugu

Awards and honours[edit]

National Film Awards[edit]

Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreographer[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kalaimamani Award: Aishwarya Rajesh, Sivakarthikeyan, Gautham Menon among awardees". 19 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Exclusive - "ஒன்றரை வயசுல முதுகுத்தண்டு உடைஞ்சிருச்சு!" - Dance Master Sivasankar". Hindu Tamil Thisai. Chennai, India. 30 January 2020. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2020 – via Youtube.
  3. ^ "Shiva Shankar bags National Award for Magadheera". 15 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "Shiva Shankar Master bitter experience". Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Doctorate for Dance master Shiva Shankar Photos | KOLLY TALK". Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  7. ^ "KSR's amazing Ajith act- Siva Shankar master recollects, Ajith, Siva Shankar". Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Power Star approached for Paradesi?". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Choreographer Sivashankar passes away due to COVID 19". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  10. ^ "कोरोना से जंग के बाद कोरियोग्राफर Shiva Shankar का निधन, सोनू सूद ने लिखा इमोशनल पोस्ट". Aaj Tak (in Hindi). 29 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Baahubali(Bahubali) Tamil Movie Review & Rating: Visual Brilliance Bails It Out of Trouble!". 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  12. ^ "2 National Awards for 'Magadheera' - Telugu News". 15 September 2010. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2020.

External links[edit]