Call for Junior Research fellow under Ref. No. DST/CSRI/2024/232 

Objective of the project

• Image-based identification and classification of dance forms using AI and ML frameworks, based on costume signatures.

• To develop a Natyashastra and Abhinaya Darpana-based NrithyAI Chatbot

• To generate new postures not found in the already composed dance item and map it to the Jathi

Publications

[C7] Akshayalakshmi S, Bagavati Narayanan, Meghana Kumar, S. Karthika, R. Srinivasan, "Karana Identification using Manual Clustering and Automatic Multi-level Classification " Two Day National Conference on Indian Knowledge Systems: Tradition, Culture, Technology Integrating Indian Knowledge System for Engineers, ISBN: 978-81-996576-1-8 PDF Best Paper Presentation Award

[C6] Asmita Padmanabhan , Meghana Kumar , S. Karthika , R. Srinivasan, "Analytical Interpretation of Karanas Based On Natyashastra Treatise", Two Day National Conference on Indian Knowledge Systems : Tradition , Culture, Technology Integrating Indian Knowledge System for Engineers, ISBN: 978-81-996576-1-8  PDF

[C5] Vianny RishwanthReddy Pentareddy, S. Karthika, R. Srinivasan, Sayantani Banerjee, "Computational Identification and Classification of Shirobedhas using Temporal Dance Features", Two Day National Conference on Indian Knowledge Systems : Tradition , Culture, Technology Integrating Indian Knowledge System for Engineers, ISBN: 978-81-996576-1-8  PDF

[C4] Malavika, C.V., Subbaraj, Karthika., Srinivasan, R., have presented the paper titled "Folk Fusion: Deep Learning based Classification of Indian Folk Dance" at the 10th International Conference on Smart Trends in Computing and Communications, SmartCom2026, Pune, India for publication in the Springer LNNS (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems) series. (Presented)

[C3] Malavika, C.V., Subbaraj, Karthika., Srinivasan, R., "Nrithya: A Curated Image Dataset of Indian Folk and South Indian Classical Dance Forms," TENCON 2025 - 2025 IEEE Region 10 Conference (TENCON), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 2025, pp. 5-9, doi: 10.1109/TENCON66050.2025.11375076. PDF 

[C2] Malavika, C.V., Subbaraj, K., Srinivasan, R. (2026). Costumed Clues: Classification of South Indian Classical Dance Forms Using Costume Features. In: Kumar, S., Bye, R.T., Prasad, M. (eds) Proceedings of International Conference on Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence. ITAI 2025. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 1506. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-8694-0_3  PDF

[C1] Pavithra Manikandan, Aravind Vijayaraghavan, S. Karthika, R. Srinivasan, “Identification and Classification of Eye Movements in Bharatanatyam using Deep Learning Techniques”, 14th International Conference on Advances in Computing, Control, and Telecommunication Technologies, ACT 2023Volume: 2023-JunePages: 566 - 573, EID: 2-s2.0-85174239411 PDF 

[BC1] Shriram, M.S., Sushmitha, S., Karthika, S. (2025). A Symphony of Movements: Deep Learning for Thattadavu Recognition in Bharatanatyam. In: Bansal, J.C., Sharma, H., Chakravorty, A. (eds) Congress on Smart Computing Technologies. CSCT 2022. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 396. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-8096-9_9 PDF

Dissertation

[1] Aashish M & Harish K, Gestural Grammar: AI Vision for anthropology analysis, B.Tech IT (2021-2025)

[2] Nirranjana R & Aishwarya R, Understanding ethnochoreology using computational modelling, B.Tech IT (2021-2025)

Datasets

1. Pose detection in Karanas

2. Eye Movement Classification

3. Costume Clues: Classical Dance Forms

4. Costume Clues: Folk Dance Forms

5. Jatiswaram Classification

6. Padam Classification

Gallery Carousal

Reference Treatise/ Books/ Articles related to the research project 

1. Natya Shastra : Bharat Muni : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

2. Nandikeshwar's Abhinaya Darpanam, Revised & Enlarged, by Manmohan Ghosh, Indian Mind/Dist. by Indica, ISBN: 978-8193279410

3. Being the Abhinaya Darpana of Nandikesvara, Translated Into English By Ananda Coomaraswamy And Gopala Kristnayya Duggirala, Cambridge Harvard University Press London: Humphrey Milford Oxford University Press 1917

4. Nandikesvara's Abhinayadarpanam - A Manual Of Gesture And Posture Used In Hindu Dance and Drama By Manomohan Ghosh, Firma K. L. Mukhopadhyay Calcutta. 1957

5. “கூத்து நூல்” தமிழ் விக்கிப்பீடியா. Last modified December 1, 2013.

6.  Vatsyayan, K. (1974). Indian Classical Dance. New Delhi: Sangeet Natak Akademi.

7. Vatsyayan, K. (1996). Traditions of Indian Folk Dance. New Delhi: National Book Trust.

8. Ghosh, M. (Ed. & Trans.). (1951–1967). Nāṭyaśāstra of Bharata (Vols. 1–2). Calcutta: Asiatic Society of Bengal.

9. Nandikesvara. (20th-century critical editions). Abhinaya Darpana. Chennai: Adyar Library & Research Centre.

10. Banerjee, P. (2006). Dance Research and Documentation in India. Sangeet Natak Akademi Bulletin, 40(1), 23–37.

11. Purecha, S. (2010). Text, context, and performance: Reconstructing classical Indian dance. Journal of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, 45, 1–18.

12. Jain, J. (1993). Folk Theatre and Dance of India: Documentation and Analysis. New Delhi: IGNCA.

13. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). (1990–present). Audio-visual archives on folk and classical dance traditions of India. New Delhi.

14. Sangeet Natak Akademi. (1958–present). National Dance Documentation and Video Archive. New Delhi.

15. IGNCA. (1990–present). Kalāsampadā Digital Archive.

16. Bhavnani, Enakshi. The dance in India. Taraporevala's Treasure House of Books, 1965.

17. Bharathakalai ( Kotpadu ) / பரதக் கலை ( கோட்பாடு ) by Dr. Padma Subramanyam 

18. Karana Prakaranam by Dr. Padma Subramanyam

19. Ministry of Culture, Government of India – https://www.indiaculture.gov.in/dance

20. Dharmalingam, B., M. S. Kanagathara, M. Muthumari, and P. Avanthraj. "Dance form of karagattam-the regional folk dance in Tamil nadu." Shanlax International Journal of Arts, Science and Humanities 7, no. 1 (2019): 71-75.

21. Bharatha Natya and other Dances of Tamil Nadu by E Krishaniyar

22. A Study of Folk Dances and Tribal Sports in Tamil Nadu by Jawahar Benjamin N (Alagappa University, 2005 batch) Jawahar Benjamin, N. "A study of folk dances and tribal sports in Tamilnadu."