VEMPATI CHINNA SATYAM

Born into a traditional family of dancers in Kuchipudi village, in Andhra Pradesh, Vempati Chinna Satyam was initiated into this great art by Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sastry, a master in the field.

Vempati sublimated and systematized Kuchipudi without sacrificing its purity and gave it a more classical and sophisticated look. He refined and re-defined Kuchipudi within the boundaries of the Natya Sastra and gave it a whole new perspective.

Notable among the numerous awards and titles conferred on him are - Kalaprapurna by Andhra University, Kuchipudi Nritya Pramukh by Sangeet Natak Akademi, Honourary Doctorate by Sri Venkateswara University, Asthana Vidwan by Sri Venkateswara Temple, Pittsburgh, T.T.K. Memorial Award by Music Academy, Kalidas Puraskar by the Government of Madhya Pradesh and Kalaimamani by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The Mayor of Miami presented the Golden Key to him in 1984. The Mayor of Dayton, Ohio, declared September 25, 1994 as Vempati Chinna Satyam Day, the Mayor of Gahanna, Ohio declared April 27, 1984 as Classical Indian Kuchipudi Ballet Dance Drama day, The Mayor of Atlanta declared 3^rd November 1994 as Kuchipudi Dance Drama Day and the Mayor of Memphis declared September 24, 1994 as Ramayanam Day and the Key to the city was awarded to him.

Here is a face-to-face with this extremely simple and unassuming dance Vidwan at the Kuchipudi Art Academy. 

I have been dancing since the age of nine.

No. Kuchupudi, in the olden days, was mainly in the form of dance dramas performed only by men in Andhra Pradesh. Gradually, solo recitals in Kuchipudi were started, and performed by ladies too. The solo form made the art more popular and it came out of the confines of Andhra Pradesh. Of course, we had many dance dramas also which had men and women. I have produced about fifteen dance dramas like Padmavati Srinivasa Kalyanam, Vipranarayana Charitam, Menaka Viswamitra, Kalyana Sakuntalam, Bhama Kalapam, Chandalika, Rukmini Kalyanam, Hara Vilasam, Siva Dhanurbhangam and Ardha Nareeswaram, the latest. I also have a repertoire of one hundred and fifty solo items. I have done many successful shows abroad with my dance troupes. So, Kuchipudi has now become a popular art form.

Kuchipudi, as a classical art form is much newer compared to Bharatanatyam.  In the olden days Bharatanatyam had the patronage of the Maharajas and moreover Kuchipudi, as I said was always a dance drama tradition performed by men. Even the female roles used to be performed by men only. Around the 1930’s a need for revival for this immortal tradition was felt and the introduction of women into this style gave the art form the much needed impetus.

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