KUCHIPUDI
by David Courtney, Ph.D.
Kuchipudi
is the classical dance form from the South-East Indian
state of Andhra Pradesh. It derives its name from the
village of Kuchelapuram, a small village about 65 kms
from Vijaywada. It is known for its graceful movements
and its strong narrative / dramatic character.
There
is a legend concerning the origins of Kuchipudi. It
is said that there was once an orphan of Srikakulam
who was raised by the village. These kind people had
him married at childhood as was the custom of the time.
However, for his training he went to Udipi for Vedic
studies. During his study he acquired the name Sidhendra
Yogi.
Durga
Pallavi in Kuscipudi Pose
After a time he returned to Srikakulam. However, the
village elders ordered him to go to his wife's house
to assume his family responsibilities. On the journey
he came upon a river. As he was swimming across the
river he suddenly realised that he could swim no further.
He then prayed to God to give him the strength to make
it across. He did make it, and upon reaching the shore
he vowed to become a sanyasi (renunciate) and devote
his life to religious affairs.
He
then settled in the village of Kuchelapuram and started
teaching. Here, he instructed Brahmin boys in devotional
dance dramas based upon religious themes. These religious
plays were presented as offerings to God in the tradition
of the Natya Shastra.
Kuchipudi
flourished as a dramatic form of dance for hundreds
of years. It was held in high esteem by the rules of
the Deccan. For instance Tana Shah in 1678 granted the
lands around Kuchipudi to the Brahmins who performed
the dance.
At times the dancers could even wield political and
social power. One example was a play-cum-social commentary
performed in 1502. It seems that a group of artists
performed before Immadi Narasa Nayaka. In this play,
they indicated that the people were being unfairly treated
by a local raja. The dancers succeeded in freeing the
people form the abusive practices of the raja, but the
artists at one point even required the protection of
the army.
Modern
Kuchipudi acquired its present form in the 20th century.
A number of people were responsible for moving it from
the villages to the performance stage. One of the most
notable was guru Lakshminarayan Shastry. After him,
a number of other luminaries would mould it into its
present shape. Some notable names are Vempati Chinna
Satyam, C.R. Acharyalu, and Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna.
For
more detailes go to:
http://chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/nritya/kuchipudi.html
