(27th February 1921 to 29th November 2012)
Choreography of Children’s Ballets: Manitaichi Fajity(1947), Billi Mausi ki Fajity (1948), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1958), Panchatantra (1970), Apna Haath Jagannath (1980), Durga Zhaali Gauri (1983).
Choreography for Films: Between 1950 and 1968 he choreographed dance sequences for several Hindi Films. These include: Gauna, Daag, Badshah, Vishwamitra Menaka, Hum Hindoostani, Ek Moosafir Ek Hasina, Dil Deke Dekho, Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Kale Gore, Mr. X, Dhola Maru, Raj Mukut and Jai Mahalaxmi.
He also choreographed dance sequences for some regional films. These include: Postatil Mulgi (Marathi), Prem Andhla Asta (Marathi) and Sudi Guntalu (Telegu).
Tours Overseas: In 1959, he was invited to Paris to present the ballet ‘Dekh Teri Bambai’ at the invitation of Theatre de Nations, sponsored by Indian National Theatre.
In 1969 he visited Romania and Hungary on a cultural tour sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India.
Founding of Dance Institutions: In 1968 he founded ‘Tanjavur Nrityashala’ to train students in the discipline of Bharatanatyam.
Early Training in Dance: He learned Bharatanatyam under Guru Chandrashekhar Pillai. He also learned several compositions from Guru Mahalingam Pillai and Smt. Maylapur Gauri Amma. He learned Kathakali from Guru Karunakar Panikar and Kathak from Guru Ratikant Arya and Guru Sunder Prasad.
Choreography of Indian Dance-Ballets: Between 1942 and 1983 he choreographed over twenty ballets. These include- Dawn of a New Era (1942), Sita Haran (1943), Sundopsunda (1944), By 1951 (1948), Bharat Ki Kahani (1949), Rhythm of Culture (1950), Rajput Episode-Raja Rani ki Kahani (1956), Dekh Teri Bambai (1958), Discovery of India(1964) and Krishna Leela(1965).
Awards: He has received several awards. They are: Maharashtra State Award for Distinguished Service in the Cultural Field (1969), F. I. E. Foundation Awards for Ichalkaranji (1979), Akhilbharatiya Natya Parishad(1980), Sangeet Natak Academy Award for Choreography (1981), Marathi Natya Parishad, Mumbai (1982), Sharangdev Fellowship (1990) and Maharshtra Gaurav Puraskar (1990).
He has also been honoured by the following institutions: Kala Chhaya, Pune(1982), Bala Rangabhumi, Little Theatre, Mumbai (1982), Sahitya Sangha Mandir, Mumbai (1982), Yuvak Biradri, Mumbai (1983), Gana Kala Bharati, Ahmedabad(1983), Ganesh Prasad Social Forum, Mumbai(1991), Rangashree Ballet Troupe, Bhopal (1991), Kala Parichaya, Mumbai (1991) and Konkan Kala Mandal, Maharashtra(1994).
Important Positions Held: Member of the General Council of the Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi (1980-1982).
Appointed as Member of the committee for 6the selection of young artists, by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India (1978-1979).
Research and Choreography of Marathi Nirupanas: In 1982 his path breaking research on the Nirupanas of the Tanjavur Kings was published in the form of the ‘Tanjavur Nritya Prabandha’ by the Sahitya and Sanskriti Mandal, Maharashtra.
The nirupanas of Sarfoji Maharaj II (1777-1832), a descendant of the Bhonsle family of kings, were compositions written in Marathi but set to Carnatic music. These were researched and choreographed in dance-form by Acharya Parvatikumar.
Research and Choreography of Abhinaya Darpanam: In 1986 and subsequently in 1992 he presented his key contribution to Bharatanatyam, the choreography in dance-form of the entire classical Sanskrit text, the ‘Abhinaya Darpanam’.
