Subashini Pathmanathan has completed her Doctoral degree in Bharatha Natyam from the Faculty of Graduate Studies of University of Colombo. Her research topic was “Impact of Bharatha Natyam on ancient Sri Lankan Hindu temple and decorative Architectural sculptures of Polonnaruwa period’’. She undertook her research under the guidance and supervision of Prof Nimal de Silva, an eminent and outstanding academician.
Subashini Pathmanathan being the first to complete the degree in Bharatha Natyam in Sri Lanka, started her Bharata Natyam career at the age of two and half. She studied Bharata Natyam under maestro the late Padmashree Vazhuvoor Ramiahpillai at Vazhuvoorar classical Bharata Natya Centre, Mylapore, Chennai.
The great maestro conferred upon her the title ‘Natya Kala Shikamani’. In 1984 she participated at the All India Cultural Festival and won the best performer award in India.
She graduated and received her master’s degree from the Punjab University. She completed two diploma courses in Bharata Natyam. One is from Vazhuvoorar Classical Bharata Natya Centre, Chennai and the other from Bharathidasan University Thiruchirapalli. She also completed a Master of Fine arts degree in Bharatha Natyam.
Being a performing artiste she has performed in numerous countries around the globe.
She is a well-known writer on dance and related topics. So far she has written 12 books and many articles. In 1991, she won the Esmond Wickermasinghe award for journalism. She joined the Indian Cultural Centre Colombo at its inception in 1998. Indian Cultural Centre Colombo is one of the International centers of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi. Subashini is attached to the Indian Cultural Centre and is Directress of Vimalothaya Classical Bharatha Natya Kendra Colombo, one of the outstanding dance training Centers in Sri Lanka and dance oriental dance research Centre. She is the daughter of the late Nataraja Pathmanathan Attorney at Law and Mrs Vimalothaya Pathmanathan.