|
|
 |
 |
 |
Dr.Vempati Chinna Satyam Born in a traditional family of dancers in the village, Kuchipudi, Andhra Pradesh, dance was intermingled in Vempati's blood and veins. Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sastry, a great master in the field, initiated Young Vempati into this great art. As he learnt the nuances of this style of dance, Vempati was avid to see this great heritage permeate all over the world.
With this burning desire he left his native village at the age of 18. Due to financial constraints he walked all the way to Madras, now Chennai, the cultural Mecca of all fine arts.
He underwent vigorous training under his cousin, Vempati
Pedda Satyam who was a well-established dance director |
|
|
|
|
in the film world. He also spent a year under various teachers, extending his knowledge of various styles.
The glitter and glamour of the tinsel world failed to impress him. With the desire to spread Kuchipudi, burning within, Vempati started teaching and started his Kuchipudi Art Academy at Madras in 1963.The Academy has to its credit more than 180 Solo items and 15 dance dramas composed and choreographed by Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. These solo items and dramas have been staged all over India and abroad. He composed his first dance drama Sri Krishna Parijatham in the same period followed by another hit Ksheera Sagara Madanam and played the lead role. His portrayal of Lord Shiva and his brilliant choreography was received with thunderous applause. With his very first attempt passing in flying colors, his long cherished desire, to establish Kuchipudi among
|
|
|
|
|
the prominent classical styles, got a shot in the arm.
Vempati's charismatic choreography and scintillating style were witnessed and applauded in almost all parts of the world. He sublimated and systematized Kuchipudi without sacrificing its pristine purity and gave it a more classical and sophisticated look. He refined and redefined Kuchipudi bringing it completely within the boundaries of Natya Sastra and gave it a wholly new perspective. Vempati worked on and produced many more marvels like Padmavati Srinivasa Kalyanam, Vipranarayana Cheritam, Menaka Viswamitra, Sakuntalam, Bama Kalapam, Chandalika, Rukmini Kalyanam, Hara Vilasam, Siva Dhanurbhangam (the first part of the oldest epic Ramayana) and Ardha Nareeswara. He also composed Kumara Sambhavam, Padmavathi Tirumanam and Sri Krishna Parijatam in Tamil.
|
|
|
|
|
