Snippets of Information
Dance - Kuchipudi
* 29 May 2022
Early contributors
Chinta Venkataramayya (1860 - 1949)
Chinta Venkataramayya was a disciple of Venkataratnam, his elder
brother, and Yeleswarapu Narayanappa. Founder of Vekatarama Nataya
Mandali
Disciples: Vedantam Raghavayya Hari chalapati, vedantam Chalapati,
vedantam Ramakrishnayya, Chinta Rama Murthy, Chinta Krishna Murthy and
Pasumarti Venugopala Krishna Sarma.
Source: kuchipudi.com
Vempati Venkatanarayana (1871 - 1935)
Vempati Venkatanarayana was trained by his father Sri Kodandaraamayya. He was called ABHINAVA SATHYABHAAM.
Source: kuchipudi.com
Madhavayya Hari
Madhavayya started his dance training under his father Sriramulu and also was well versed in music.
He was fascinated by the Bhagavatamela dance dramas of Melathur
Kasinathayya and borrowed the texts with a view to adopt it to Kuchipudi
style.
Disciples: Chinta Venataratnam, Ramanatham and Hari Chalapat
Source: kuchipudi.com
Hari Venkatachalapati
Hari Venkatachalapati’s times are not clearly known but according to
some sources he was supposed to have lived between early and late 19th
century.
Source: kuchipudi.com
Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastry (1886 -1956)
Lakshminarayana Sastry learnt dance from Sri Vempati Venkatanarayana and
with great ease and class performed Bhamakalapam and Gollakalapam. A
master in both theoretical and Practical aspects of dance, music and
talas. Lakshminarayana Sastry is credited for introducing solo system of
dance in the otherwise traditional dance drama form of Kuchipudi. He
introduced solo novelty items like tarangams (‘waves’) as
divertissements within dance-dramas: the performer dances on a brass
plate while balancing a full pitcher on the head. Abhinaya to
compositions by traditional poets like Khettrayya and Annamacharya also
became common.
Lakshminarayana Sastry was also pioneer in introducing the dance form to women, which till then was restricted only to men.
Titles: Natyakalanidhi, Shadbharathkalanidhi, Abhinaya Brahma
Disciples: Vedantham Jagannadha Sarma, Vempati Peda Satyam, Vempati
Chinna Satyam and Ayyanki Thandava Krishna, Vijaya Prasad, Yamini
Krishnamurthy .
He also trained the temple dancers, who include Duggirala Jagadamba of
Mandapeta and Srirajitham. Non-Kuchipudi artistes like T. Bala
Saraswathi, Ramayya Pillai, Mylapore Gouri Amma and Tara Chowdary came
to him for training in Abinaya.
Source: kuchipudi.com ; sangeetnatak.org
Bhagavathula Vissaiah
Many established dancers, such as Bharatanatyam legend Mylapore
Gowriamma, went to Vissaiah to enhance their knowledge of abhinaya
nuances.
Source: thehindu.com
Tadepalli Perayya ( 1886 - 1942 )
He was an expert in performing BHAMA and GOLLAKALAAPAS. Perayya is known
more as a guru than as a performer. He trained DEVADAASIS of Meduru and
Nangigadda, arranged performances by them and played the roles of
SUTHRADHAARA (principal narrator). It is commendable that Perayya did
not merely impart training to DEVADAASIS and make them good performers,
but even played a reformatory role in molding their lives. He was the
last to carry the tradition of dance in his family.
Dsciples: Vempati Chinna Satyam and Josyula Sitaramayya.
Source: kuchipudi.com
Vedaantham Ramakrishnaiah (1886 - 1971)
Ramakrishnaiah learnt dance from Chintha Venkataramayya and his elder
brothers Venkatachalapathi, Venkateswara Sastry and Lakshminarayana; he
was trained in music by Venkateswara Sastry (his brother) and
Challapalli Sitharamayya. He worked with D.V.Subbarao in the Indian
Dramatic Company at Machilipatnam. He also headed the group VEDAANTHAM
VAARI MELAM. He tried to bring in appropriate costumes and stage dcor in
his dance dramas.
Source: kuchipudi.com
Punnaya Hari (1890 - 1970)
Punnaya Hari was trained by his father Venkatachalapathi. He was also a skilled artisan in making dance ornaments.
Source: kuchipudi.com
Mahankaali Chinna Sathyanarayana (1904 - 1977)
Second son of Sri Sriraamulu, Mahankaali Sathyanarayana received his
early training in dance form from his father and later from Chintha
Venkataramayya and music from Challapalli Sitharaamayya. He worked under
the banner of MAHANKAALI MELAMU for a long time with Vedaantham
Raaghavayya, Bhaagavathula Sathyanaaraayana, Darbha Venkateswarlu and
Vedaantham Ramayya as his colleagues. After Vedaantham Raaghavayya’s
entry in to the film world, he rejoined VENKATARAMA NATYAMANDALI.
Source: kuchipudi.com
Chinta Radhakrishna Murthy (1910 - 1988)
Radhakrishna Murthy was initiated into dance by his father Narayana
Murthy and later continued with Chinta Venkataramayya and Vempati
Venkatanarayana. In the later period of his dance career he travelled
far and wide of the country giving performances with Chinta vari melam.
An excellent teacher, he produced students of notable standards
Disciples: Chinta Adinarayana Sarma, Anuradha jonnalagadda and Jyothirmayi.
Source: kuchipudi.com
Chinta Krishna Murthy (1912 - 1969)
Chinta Krishnamurthy, the son of Chinta Venkataramayya, who founded the
famous Venkatarama Natya Mandali troupe was born in 1912 in Kuchipudi
village, Krishna district. He trained a generation of Kuchipudi
actor-dancers, including the legendary Vedantam Satyam. But his lasting
contribution was the organization of the Venkatarama Natya Mandali on a
sound footing, touring with it through Andhra Pradesh and other parts of
India, and making art lovers aware of the Kuchipudi legacy. He played a
crucial part, along with Banda Kanakalingeswara Rao, in establishing
the Shri Siddhendra Kalakshetram in Kuchipudi, the premier institution
imparting traditional training in the form.
Disciples: Jayarama Rao.
Source: kuchipudi.com
Pasumarti Subrahmanya Sastry (1915)
Subrahmanya Sastry had his initial training in dance from his
grandfather, Mahankali Chalapati, who moulded him perfectly in the
characters of Lohitasya, Prahlada, Lava and Kusa; received advanced
training in the female roles from Yeleswarapu Satyanarayana, Musti
Chidambara deekshtulu, Chinta Krishna murthy and Srirama Murthy. He
worked as a teacher in Siddhendra Kalakshetra at Kuchipudi for some
time.
Disciple: Bokka Krishna Murthy
Source: kuchipudi.com
Vedantam Raaghavayya (1919 - 1971)
Raaghavayya started his formal training in Dance (Yakshagana) and Music
(Yakshna Sampradaya Sangeetam) from his own father at a very tender age
of five and later he continued under the tutelage of Yakshagana Pitamaha
Sri Chinta Venkararamayya and Sri Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastry. He
had also mastered the languages of Sanskrit & Telugu from one of his
cousin and scholar, Bhagavatula Sitaramaswami. He made his debut
performance at the age of seven, as Prahlada, which was awarded at many
quarters including a Gold medal by the British Government.
Source: kuchipudi.com
Vedantam Paarvathisam (1920 - 2005)
He was trained by Yeleswarapu Sitharaamaanjaneyulu, Chinta
Venktaramayya, Vedantam Ramakrishnaiah. He gave performances in the
Jaipur and Delhi Congress sessions and performed all over India. One of
the founder members of SIDDHENDRA KALAKSHETRA, along with Banda
Kanakalingeswara Rao at Kuchipudi in 1957. Since its inception, he
worked there and retired as its Principal.
He was a prolific writer too; his PAARATHISU KIRTHANALU and dance dramas
were regularly published in NATYAKALA, a monthy journal dedicated to
arts, dance and drama, in particular published by Andhra Pradesh Sangeet
Natak Akademi, Hyderabad. Hereceived first prize in 1991 for one of his
books from the Telugu University.
The singular contribution of Paarvathisam to the field of Kuchipudi lay
in the preparation and compilation of the basics of Kuchipudi dance
mainly meant for the learners and also the documentation of a few
traditional dance dramas and PAGATI VESHAS.
Vedantam Parvatisam was the first to record the patakasharas (solfa
syllables) used for the basics of Kuchipudi in his book "Nritya
Tarangini" published in 1988.
Vedantam Parvatisam also added certain variations to some steps. The
innovations mainly occured in the domain of executing the movement and
its body kinetics and in the addition of variations.
Disciples: Pasumarthy Rattaiah Sarma, Yeleswarapu Nageswara Sarma,
Chintha Ramamu, Jayarama Rao, Pasumarthi Kesava Prasad, Bhaagavathula
Mohan Rao.
Source: kuchipudi.com ; dspace.vidyanidhi.org
Vempati Peda Sathyanarayana (1922 - 1982)
Popularly known as Peda Satyam, he had his primary training in dance at
the age of thirteen under Chintha Venkataramayya and received advanced
training from Vedantham Lakshminarayana Sastry. He also learnt
Bharathanatyam and Kathakali from Ramgopal of Bangalore and was drawn
towards the art of painting by Adavi Baapiraju.
The most popular dance director in South Indian film field, his
specialty in dance was blending of classical with modern. He started his
career as dance director with BHAKTHIMAALA (1941), in which his
disciple Bhanm acted. He directed dance for almost three hundred films
in Telugu, Tamil Canarese and Hindi, they include films like
NARTHANASALA, SUVARNA SUNDARI, PANDAVA VANAVASAM, SRI KRISHNA
PANDAVEEYAM and KALYANAM.
He wrote many research articles on Kuchipudi that were published in
several papers and journals like NATANA, MURALI, SURYAPRABHA, MATHRBHUMI
and DHANKA.
He established KUCHIPUDI KALAKENDRA in 1948.
Disciples: Vedaantham Sathyanarayana Sarma, Sumathy Kaushal and Yadavalli Rama
Source: kuchipudi.com
Vedaantham Jagannaadha Sarma (1922 - 1982)
He was trained by his father Lakshminaaraayana Sastry. Vedaantham
Jagannaadha Sarmais known or his excellent portrayal of female
characters, like SATHYABHAAMA, USHA and GOLLABHAAMA.
He shifted to Madras and entered the film world as dance director and
was associated with nearly fifty films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and
Oriya languages. Notable films - ILAVELPU, CHENCHULAKSHMI,I RATNA
PRABHA, BANGARUPAPA and KALAIARASI, THAI ILLA PILLAI.
He established KUCHIPUDI KALAKSHETRAM in 1965
Dsciples: Akella Shanti Sastri (his daughter), Sumathy Kousha, Krishna
Kumari, Shanthi Akella, Bharathi, Nilimma Devi, Usha Gayathri and R.
Vijaya Lakshmi.
Source: kuchipudi.com
Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna (March 31, 1923 - June 7, 2011)
He revived Andhra Natyam, one of the most ancient classical dance forms
of India. He recreated the "Perini Sivathandavam", the militant male
dance tradition of the 10th century AD. He has revived 'Navajanardanam',
a great Prabandha dance tradition that was performed in Kunthi Madhava
Temple at Pithapuram in the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh.
Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna choreographed and staged "Sri Venkateswara
Kalyanam", "Kumara Sambhavam" and "Megha Sandesam".
Mahakali Sriramulu (1927)
Sriramulu is a well-known male character actor; trained initially by his
father, he was shaped later by Vedantam Parvatisam and Chinta Krishna
Murthy. Associated with Venkatarama Natyamandali in the initial years of
his performance, he was adept in conducting the dance dramas as
Sutradhara.
Source: kuchipudi.com
Pasumarti Krishna Murthy (1927- 2004)
Krishna Murthy is the disciple of Chintha Venkataramayya and Chintha
Ramamurthy. Specially known for his ABHINAYA he was popular for his
female roles of SATHYABHAAMA,GOLLABH, USHA and SASIREKHA; as an young
artist, he was associated with CHINTHA VAARI MELAM, which trained and
shaped him in the exquisite portrayal of female characters.
He entered the film field and directed dance for nearly two hundred
filmsin Telugu, Tamil, Canarese, Malayalam and Hindi. His most popular
films include MALLISWARI,MAHAAKAVI KAALIDAASU, MAAYABAZAAR, MISSAMMA,
VINAAYAKA CHAVITHI, SIRI SIRI MUVVA and MEGHASANDESAM.
Source: kuchipudi.com
C.R.Acharyalu ( - 1998)
C.Rama Acharyalu was from Nuzvid,
Krishna district. He was a disciple of Vedantham Laxminarayana Shastry.
Before beginning his teaching career at Darpana, Ahmedabad, he had
established "Nataraja Nritya Samiti at Eluru in 1951.
He was authority in Karnaas, Tandavams and Pherani Nrityam (Pherani
natyam is an art where the dancer performs the tandava, balancing on an
earthen pot - representing Siva's dance on the spherical universe). He
had conducted research in temple ritual dances and brought back to lime
light once forgotten Prenkhini dance forms - Simhanandini, Mayura
Kauthvam and Mahalaxmi Udbhavam dances, in which the dancer forms the
holy portraits with footwork. . His daughter,Voleti Rangamani was
closely associated in his research work.
Books authored: "Srinivasa Ramayana" for leather puppet performance ;
"Aradhana Nrityamulu", a treatise on Kuchipudi in Telugu, "Understanding
Kuchipudi" along with Mallika Sarabhai
Awards: Central Sangeet Natak Akademi award (1978), Andhra Pradesh
Sangeet Natak Akademi award, Gujarath Sangeet Nritya Natak Akademi
award.
Disciples: Mallika Sarabhai, Smita Rajesh Sastri, Bharat Barbhaiya,
Korada Narasimha Rao, Uma Rama Rao, SUvarna Latha, Vyjayanthi Kashi,
Samarpita Bajpai, Asha Parekh (hindi film actress), Raja Sulochana
(Tamil film actress), Neeraja G.Pal.
Source: voletirangamani.com ; "Kuchipudi - Indian Classical Art form" by Sunil Kothari / Avinash Pasricha
Vedantam Prahlada Sarma (1923 - 1991)
Vedantam Prahlada Sarma, the elder brother and teacher of Vedantam
Satyam (Satyanarayana Sarma) was born in Kuchipudi village, Krishna
district. He received his initial training from his father Rattayya and
Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastri, Vempati Venkatanarayan and other
members of the family. He mastered both male and female roles and had a
sound knowledge of music, all of which brought him acclaim at
performances in India and abroad. In 1964, He moved to Eluru, as a
principal of Kalakshetram and trained several dancers including his
brother Vedantam Satyam.
Disciples: Pasumarthy Rattaiah Sarma, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Sunanda Devi
, Raja and Radha Reddy, Vyjayanthi Kashi, Nilimma Devi, Jaya, Bharati
Source: indianetzone.com ; "Kuchipudi - Indian Classical Art form" by Sunil Kothari / Avinash Pasricha
Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam (1929 - 2012)
Born in a traditional family of dancers in the village of Kuchipudi,
Andhra Pradesh, Vempati Chinna Satyam received his initial training from
Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sastry, a great master in the field and later
from Tadepally Perrayya Sastry. At the age of 18 he travelled to
Chennai and underwent rigorous training under his cousin, Vempati Pedda
Satyam who was a well-established dance director in the film world.
Vempati started the "Kuchipudi Art Academy" at Madras in the year 1963.
Source: kuchipudi.com
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