RLV Salini Harikumar is a renowned Mohiniyattam dancer and scholar, currently serving as the Head of the Department of Mohiniyattam at the RLV College of Music and Fine Arts, Tripunithura.
She is the daughter of the legendary Kathakali artiste RLV Damodara Pisharody, under whom she began her training in Kathakali at a very young age. She gave her first performance at the age of six.
Salini’s dance training spans several classical art forms. She began her Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam journey under Natyakalaratnam Kala Vijayan, daughter of the famed Kalyanikuttiyamma. In addition, she has also trained in Kuchipudi, Ottan Thullal, Classical music, and Kathakali music, showcasing her versatility across performance traditions.
She received the junior scholarship for Kathakali from CCRTC and a senior scholarship for two years in Mohiniyattam, further validating her dedication and expertise in classical dance.
An excellent academic performer, Salini Harikumar secured first rank in both her B.A. and M.A. degrees from her alma mater, RLV College. She further pursued M.Phil at Kerala Kalamandalam and went on to earn a Doctorate in Mohiniyattam.
Beyond performance and academics, she is also a writer, contributing numerous scholarly articles and dance-related writings in various journals. She was also a member of the textbook committee for Mohiniyattam under the Karnataka State syllabus framework.
In recognition of her contributions to the field of Mohiniyattam, she was honored with the prestigious Sri Jayadev Rashtriya Puraskar in 2019.
