Gurus & Educators
Our Teaching Faculty
Meet Our Gurus
Dedicated. Experienced. Inspiring.
Our faculty members carry forward the sacred Guru-Shishya tradition, nurturing each student’s artistic journey with devotion and mastery.
Bawani Shetty
Bollywood Bharatanatyam Folk
Bawani Shetty's dance journey at TFA commenced in 1987. Her repertoire spans Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kathak..
Gowri Ramachandran
Odissi| Bharatanatyam |Dance Theory
One of TFA's leading home-grown talents since 1981. Trained in Bharatanatyam and Indian folk by V.K.
JT Choong
Bharatanatyam Odissi Kathak
Graduated under Smt. Vatsala Sivadas in 1994. Started teaching Bharatanatyam in 1995. Solo performances 'Siva Sakti'
Kasthoori Ramanaidu
Head of Kuchipudi Department
Head of Kuchipudi Department at TFA. Enrolled in TFA April 1982. Awarded 'Nrityanjali' in Bharatanatyam
Kumar Supramaniam
Yoga Naturopathy
Bachelor of Science in Yoga & Naturopathy from Thiruvaluvar University India. Honorary Doctorate in
Pankhuri Agrawal
Bharatanatyam
Engineer by profession, dancer by passion. Masters from University of Melbourne with First Class Honours.
Purnima Segaran
Bharatanatyam Odissi
Financial analyst by profession. Professionally trained classical dancer for 22+ years. Began Bharatanatyam at
Sharmini Sivadas
Head of Piano Department
Heading the Piano Department at TFA KL. Tutoring piano for nearly 28 years since 1990. Qualified with Trinity ATCL
Hariraam Tingyuan Lam
Carnatic Violin
Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Violin graduate of TFA. Disciple of Smt. Kanagamani. Underwent 1-year course
Prakash Kandasamy
Tabla
Studied tabla in Pune India for 6 years under Ustad Mohammed Hanif Mirajkar. Part-time lecturer at ASWAR
Eliezer Enan
Guitar
Established professional musician. Music degree from ASWARA majoring in composition and arrangement. Vast
Srivaramangai Sadagopan
Carnatic Vocal
University first Rank holder (Gold Medalist) in B.A Music. Currently learning under Sangita Kalanidhi
Jyotsna Prakash
Piano |Composition
Bharatanatyam graduate and award-winning composer. Masters in Performing Arts. Part of Malaysian
Muthuraman Ganesan
Mridangam| Percussion
Dedicated percussionist trained under Sri Bangalore K. Ravishankar. Completed Mridangam Arangetram at
Bhuma Manoharan
Carnatic Vocal |Pan Isai |Veena
Doctor by training. BMus from Trinity College London. Learning under Sangita Kalanidhi Padmabhushan Dr. TV
Kumar Karthigesu
Sitar
Began learning sitar under Pandit Dharambir Singh, disciple of Ustad Vilayat Khan. Has performed widely
Pangasaasanii Gowrisan
Piano |Composition
She is a dedicated artiste trained in Dance, Vocal, and Carnatic Violin at The Temple of Fine Arts.
Pathmajothi Ganeshwaran
Pathmajothi Ganeshwaran
A refined and mellifluous vocalist in Carnatic music and Thevaram, she hails from a prominent Saivite family.
Pradip Bahadur Dangol
Carnatic Vocal |Pan Isai |Veena
Started his music path in 1981 under Guruji Satyanarayan Chaudhari student of Ustaz Ahmad Jaan .
Priyanka Nair
Sitar
Swathi Sivadas
Piano |Composition
She holds a Bachelor of Classical Music (Hons) (Western) UCSI University Kuala Lumpur (2016) (Piano Major)
Darmen Krisnan
Pathmajothi Ganeshwaran
A refined and mellifluous vocalist in Carnatic music and Thevaram, she hails from a prominent Saivite family.
Abbirami Balachandran
Carnatic Vocal |Pan Isai |Veena
Started his music path in 1981 under Guruji Satyanarayan Chaudhari student of Ustaz Ahmad Jaan .
Prajindra Sankar Krishnan
Sitar
Prajindra Sankar Krishnan is a sitarist who graduated from the Temple of Fine Arts, Kuala Lumpur in 2018.
Laynisha
Piano |Composition
Laynisha began her journey in Sitar at the age of 13, enrolling at the Temple of Fine Arts (TFA), Kuala Lumpur.
Arvinder Singh Raina
Arvinder Singh Raina
Kalpana Paranjothy
Carnatic Vocal |Pan Isai |Veena
Kalpana Paranjothy is a skilled Hindustani Sitar player who started her training under Dr Subramony at The Temple of Fine Arts
Sveta Kilpady
Sitar
Sveta started learning Hindustani classical music at the age of three from Pandit Jialal Vasant, Shrimati Manik Bhide & Thumris
from Dr. Aneeta Sen
Vaisshnavi Manoharan
Piano |Composition
Has completed Grade 8 ABRSM Piano, with a strong foundation in Western classical music.
Shuwehtha Premkumar
Shuwehtha Premkumar
Shestarted learning Sangeetham & Veena at the age of three from her mother & guru, Acharya Ratna Shrimati Jayalakshmi Premkumar.
Ravindra Shetty
Dance
Ravi Shetty is the progeny of the famous maestro of dance the late Master Gopal Shetty, the International President and Director of The Temple of Fine Arts, a premier cultural Institution in Malaysia
Dhanya Thurairajah
Dance
She is a dancer and holistic healer - whose artistic journey began at the Temple of Fine Arts Kuala Lumpur in the 1980s.
Master Dr Selvakumar
Martial arts
Head Instructor with Universal Martial Arts and Taekwondo Academy (Reg. No. 1091620-U) under the guidance of Grand Master Leow Cheng Koon 10th Dan
Vishaka Devi Rajasingam
Dance
Vishaka Devi is an educator by profession, holding a Master’s degree, and currently works as a school teacher
Vatsala Sivadas
Dance
Vatsala Sivadas is a pioneering Bharatanatyam exponent, choreographer, and cultural icon in Malaysia.
Shyamala Narayanan
Dance
At the age of 7, with her mother’s encouragement she trained under Shrimathi Shanta Dhananjayan from Kalashketra and performed her arangetram in 1966
Shankar Kandasamy
Martial arts
Shankar Kandasamy's involvement in the growth and progress of his dance path with this Institution since its inception in 1981.
Shonabushani Velusamy
Dance
Shona has been a devoted student of the Temple of Fine Arts, Kuala Lumpur, for over a decade.
Sumathi Chandra
Dance
Sumathi Chandra has a teaching degree from Nanyang technological University of Singapore
Vasuki Thiruchittampalam
Dance
Vasuki began studying dance at the age of six from Guru Bhaskar in Singapore.
Thavamalar Gunaratnam
Martial arts
Malar’s dance career commenced in 1952 with Sivadas Vatsala Dance Troup as one of their principal dancers.
Radha Gopal Shetty
Dance
Radha Shetty started her dance career and graduated in Bharathanatyam under Sri Gopal Shetty’s tutelage and ...
Presand G
Dance
Presand graduated in Bharathanatyam at the Temple of Fine Arts in 2016
Sri Kisha Subramaniam
Dance
Sri Kisha started learning Bharatanatyam at the tender at of 5 under the loving guidance of Shrimathi Vasuki Sivanesan.
Kishore Kumar Krishnan
Dance
Born in 1990, he began his journey as a dedicated athlete and soccer player.
In his late teens, he transitioned fully into dance,
Nadina Krishnan
Dance
Nadina Krishnan began her dance journey at the age of four, training in Bharatanatyam under the tutelage of Shrimathi Vatsala Sivadas.
Vinitha Balrama
Dance
Vinitha Balrama is a dedicated Bharatanatyam educator and performing artist based in Kuala Lumpur, currently serving as an instructor at the Temple of Fine Arts KL.
Abbirami Balachandran
Carnatic Vocal |Pan Isai |Veena
Started his music path in 1981 under Guruji Satyanarayan Chaudhari student of Ustaz Ahmad Jaan .
Arvinder Singh Raina
Arvinder Singh Raina
Bawani Shetty
Bollywood Bharatanatyam Folk
Bawani Shetty's dance journey at TFA commenced in 1987. Her repertoire spans Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kathak..
Darmen Krisnan
Pathmajothi Ganeshwaran
A refined and mellifluous vocalist in Carnatic music and Thevaram, she hails from a prominent Saivite family.
Dr. (MD) Bhuma Manoharan
Carnatic Vocal |Pan Isai |Veena
Doctor by training. BMus from Trinity College London. Learning under Sangita Kalanidhi Padmabhushan Dr. TV
Dr. Dhanya Thurairajah
Dance
She is a dancer and holistic healer - whose artistic journey began at the Temple of Fine Arts Kuala Lumpur in the 1980s.
Dr. Sri Kisha Subramaniam
Dance
Sri Kisha started learning Bharatanatyam at the tender at of 5 under the loving guidance of Shrimathi Vasuki Sivanesan.
Dr. (Phd) Jyotsna Prakash
Piano |Composition
Bharatanatyam graduate and award-winning composer. Masters in Performing Arts. Part of Malaysian
Eliezer Enan
Guitar
Established professional musician. Music degree from ASWARA majoring in composition and arrangement. Vast
Gowri Ramachandran
Odissi| Bharatanatyam |Dance Theory
One of TFA's leading home-grown talents since 1981. Trained in Bharatanatyam and Indian folk by V.K.
Hariraam Tingyuan Lam
Carnatic Violin
Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Violin graduate of TFA. Disciple of Smt. Kanagamani. Underwent 1-year course
JT Choong
Bharatanatyam Odissi Kathak
Graduated under Smt. Vatsala Sivadas in 1994. Started teaching Bharatanatyam in 1995. Solo performances 'Siva Sakti'
Kalpana Paranjothy
Carnatic Vocal |Pan Isai |Veena
Kalpana Paranjothy is a skilled Hindustani Sitar player who started her training under Dr Subramony at The Temple of Fine Arts
Kasthoori Ramanaidu
Head of Kuchipudi Department
Head of Kuchipudi Department at TFA. Enrolled in TFA April 1982. Awarded 'Nrityanjali' in Bharatanatyam
Kishore Kumar Krishnan
Dance
Born in 1990, he began his journey as a dedicated athlete and soccer player.
In his late teens, he transitioned fully into dance,
Kumar Karthigesu
Sitar
Began learning sitar under Pandit Dharambir Singh, disciple of Ustad Vilayat Khan. Has performed widely
Shuwehtha Premkumar
Shuwehtha Premkumar
Shestarted learning Sangeetham & Veena at the age of three from her mother & guru, Acharya Ratna Shrimati Jayalakshmi Premkumar.
Srivaramangai Sadagopan
Carnatic Vocal
University first Rank holder (Gold Medalist) in B.A Music. Currently learning under Sangita Kalanidhi
Sveta Kilpady
Sitar
Sveta started learning Hindustani classical music at the age of three from Pandit Jialal Vasant, Shrimati Manik Bhide & Thumris
from Dr. Aneeta Sen
Swathi Sivadas
Piano |Composition
She holds a Bachelor of Classical Music (Hons) (Western) UCSI University Kuala Lumpur (2016) (Piano Major)
Vaisshnavi Manoharan
Piano |Composition
Has completed Grade 8 ABRSM Piano, with a strong foundation in Western classical music.
Bawani Shetty
Bollywood Bharatanatyam Folk
Bawani Shetty's dance journey at TFA commenced in 1987. Her repertoire spans Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kathak..
Dr. Dhanya Thurairajah
Dance
She is a dancer and holistic healer - whose artistic journey began at the Temple of Fine Arts Kuala Lumpur in the 1980s.
Dr. Sri Kisha Subramaniam
Dance
Sri Kisha started learning Bharatanatyam at the tender at of 5 under the loving guidance of Shrimathi Vasuki Sivanesan.
Gowri Ramachandran
Odissi| Bharatanatyam |Dance Theory
One of TFA's leading home-grown talents since 1981. Trained in Bharatanatyam and Indian folk by V.K.
JT Choong
Bharatanatyam Odissi Kathak
Graduated under Smt. Vatsala Sivadas in 1994. Started teaching Bharatanatyam in 1995. Solo performances 'Siva Sakti'
Kasthoori Ramanaidu
Head of Kuchipudi Department
Head of Kuchipudi Department at TFA. Enrolled in TFA April 1982. Awarded 'Nrityanjali' in Bharatanatyam
Kishore Kumar Krishnan
Dance
Born in 1990, he began his journey as a dedicated athlete and soccer player.
In his late teens, he transitioned fully into dance,
Nadina Krishnan
Dance
Nadina Krishnan began her dance journey at the age of four, training in Bharatanatyam under the tutelage of Shrimathi Vatsala Sivadas.
Pankhuri Agrawal
Bharatanatyam
Engineer by profession, dancer by passion. Masters from University of Melbourne with First Class Honours.
Presand G
Dance
Presand graduated in Bharathanatyam at the Temple of Fine Arts in 2016
Purnima Segaran
Bharatanatyam Odissi
Financial analyst by profession. Professionally trained classical dancer for 22+ years. Began Bharatanatyam at
Radha Gopal Shetty
Dance
Radha Shetty started her dance career and graduated in Bharathanatyam under Sri Gopal Shetty’s tutelage and ...
Ravindra Shetty
Dance
Ravi Shetty is the progeny of the famous maestro of dance the late Master Gopal Shetty, the International President and Director of The Temple of Fine Arts, a premier cultural Institution in Malaysia
Shankar Kandasamy
Dance
Shankar Kandasamy's involvement in the growth and progress of his dance path with this Institution since its inception in 1981.
Shonabushani Velusamy
Dance
Shona has been a devoted student of the Temple of Fine Arts, Kuala Lumpur, for over a decade.
Sumathi Chandra
Dance
Sumathi Chandra has a teaching degree from Nanyang technological University of Singapore
Thavamalar Gunaratnam
Dance
Malar’s dance career commenced in 1952 with Sivadas Vatsala Dance Troup as one of their principal dancers.
Vasuki Thiruchittampalam
Dance
Vasuki began studying dance at the age of six from Guru Bhaskar in Singapore.
Vatsala Sivadas
Dance
Vatsala Sivadas is a pioneering Bharatanatyam exponent, choreographer, and cultural icon in Malaysia.
Vinitha Balrama
Dance
Vinitha Balrama is a dedicated Bharatanatyam educator and performing artist based in Kuala Lumpur, currently serving as an instructor at the Temple of Fine Arts KL.
Vishaka Devi Rajasingam
Dance
Vishaka Devi is an educator by profession, holding a Master’s degree, and currently works as a school teacher
Shyamala Narayanan
Dance
At the age of 7, with her mother’s encouragement she trained under Shrimathi Shanta Dhananjayan from Kalashketra and performed her arangetram in 1966
Abbirami Balachandran
Carnatic Vocal |Pan Isai |Veena
Started his music path in 1981 under Guruji Satyanarayan Chaudhari student of Ustaz Ahmad Jaan .
Darmen Krisnan
Pathmajothi Ganeshwaran
A refined and mellifluous vocalist in Carnatic music and Thevaram, she hails from a prominent Saivite family.
Dr. (MD) Bhuma Manoharan
Carnatic Vocal |Pan Isai |Veena
Doctor by training. BMus from Trinity College London. Learning under Sangita Kalanidhi Padmabhushan Dr. TV
Dr. (Phd) Jyotsna Prakash
Piano |Composition
Bharatanatyam graduate and award-winning composer. Masters in Performing Arts. Part of Malaysian
Eliezer Enan
Guitar
Established professional musician. Music degree from ASWARA majoring in composition and arrangement. Vast
Hariraam Tingyuan Lam
Carnatic Violin
Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Violin graduate of TFA. Disciple of Smt. Kanagamani. Underwent 1-year course
Kalpana Paranjothy
Carnatic Vocal |Pan Isai |Veena
Kalpana Paranjothy is a skilled Hindustani Sitar player who started her training under Dr Subramony at The Temple of Fine Arts
Kumar Karthigesu
Sitar
Began learning sitar under Pandit Dharambir Singh, disciple of Ustad Vilayat Khan. Has performed widely
Laynisha
Piano |Composition
Laynisha began her journey in Sitar at the age of 13, enrolling at the Temple of Fine Arts (TFA), Kuala Lumpur.
Muthuraman Ganesan
Mridangam| Percussion
Dedicated percussionist trained under Sri Bangalore K. Ravishankar. Completed Mridangam Arangetram at
Pangasaasanii Gowrisan
Piano |Composition
She is a dedicated artiste trained in Dance, Vocal, and Carnatic Violin at The Temple of Fine Arts.
Pradip Bahadur Dangol
Carnatic Vocal |Pan Isai |Veena
Started his music path in 1981 under Guruji Satyanarayan Chaudhari student of Ustaz Ahmad Jaan .
Prakash Kandasamy
Tabla
Studied tabla in Pune India for 6 years under Ustad Mohammed Hanif Mirajkar. Part-time lecturer at ASWAR
Prajindra Sankar Krishnan
Sitar
Prajindra Sankar Krishnan is a sitarist who graduated from the Temple of Fine Arts, Kuala Lumpur in 2018.
Priyanka Nair
Sitar
Sharmini Sivadas
Head of Piano Department
Heading the Piano Department at TFA KL. Tutoring piano for nearly 28 years since 1990. Qualified with Trinity ATCL
Shuwehtha Premkumar
Shuwehtha Premkumar
Shestarted learning Sangeetham & Veena at the age of three from her mother & guru, Acharya Ratna Shrimati Jayalakshmi Premkumar.
Srivaramangai Sadagopan
Carnatic Vocal
University first Rank holder (Gold Medalist) in B.A Music. Currently learning under Sangita Kalanidhi
Sveta Kilpady
Sitar
Sveta started learning Hindustani classical music at the age of three from Pandit Jialal Vasant, Shrimati Manik Bhide & Thumris
from Dr. Aneeta Sen
Swathi Sivadas
Piano |Composition
She holds a Bachelor of Classical Music (Hons) (Western) UCSI University Kuala Lumpur (2016) (Piano Major)
Vaisshnavi Manoharan
Piano |Composition
Has completed Grade 8 ABRSM Piano, with a strong foundation in Western classical music.
Arvinder Singh Raina
Arvinder Singh Raina
Kumar Supramaniam
Yoga Naturopathy
Bachelor of Science in Yoga & Naturopathy from Thiruvaluvar University India. Honorary Doctorate in
Master Dr Selvakumar
Martial arts
Head Instructor with Universal Martial Arts and Taekwondo Academy (Reg. No. 1091620-U) under the guidance of Grand Master Leow Cheng Koon 10th Dan
Pathmajothi Ganeshwaran
Pathmajothi Ganeshwaran
A refined and mellifluous vocalist in Carnatic music and Thevaram, she hails from a prominent Saivite family.
