A bharatanatyam dancer dazzles in a display of colours and accessories.  Exquisite sarees, ringing anklets with bells on both legs, the salangai or ghungroos, are the signature of the dance. Other than that, bait suci, the long necklaces and intricate gold bracelets are donned. She also wears earrings, nose rings and head accessories such as nethi chutti or maang tikka.  The nethi chutti and maan tikka are worn in the middle of the head, flowing down to the forehead. A pottu or bindi, a traditional accessory in the form of a coloured dot, prettily worn on the forehead and heavy makeup done on the eyes and eyebrows. 

The musical instruments required are, namely, mridangam, nattuvangam, serunai (a type of aerophone) and violins. The mridangam is a barrel shaped double-sided drum, a membranophone. However, at present, the background music is pre-recorded.

1. Mrs. Srimathi Malar

A well-known Bharatanatyam dance choreographer in the Wilayah Persekutuan of Kuala Lumpur is Mrs. Srimathi Malar. She formed Hari Ayer Dance School in 1948 and later Sivadas-Vatsala Dance Troupe in 1952. Mrs. Malar became one of the founding members of the Temple of Fine Arts. Her vocation in dance lasted more than five decades by performing actively in Kuala Lumpur, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne London, Helsinki, Chicago, Dublin, India, Sri Lanka, Japan and Singapore. Currently she is serving as senior dance director at the Temple of Fine Arts. 

2. Mrs. Indira Manikam

Mrs. Indira Manikam, also known as Nattuva Thilagam, is another eminent figure of Malaysian Indian classical dance. She’s contributed widely to the development of Malaysian youth through cultural activities. 

Dancing the Bharatanatyam in 1966, and forming the Tanjai Kamalaa School of Dance, she taught all, regardless of age, skin color or religion.  The school proceeded to become one of the central Bharatanatyam schools. For over 58 years, she’s held many dance shows for charity.  She mustered Malaysian dance teachers by establishing the Malaysian Bharatanatyam Dance Association in 2008. 

Awarded with many titles in Malaysia and India.  On 22nd October 2023, she received the highest state award, Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory State Cultural Figure Award 2023 at the World Trade Center, Kuala Lumpur.