A TRIBUTE TO THE PRIMA DONNA OF KUCHIPUDI -DR YAMINI KRISHNAMURTHY

 

Legendary Kuchipudi and Bharata Natyam exponent, Dr Yamini Krishnmurthy, left for her heavenly abode on 3rd August 2024 at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, after battling for life in the ICU ward for seven months, relating to some serious health issues, she was 84 and a spinster, survived by her sisters Jyothi and Nandini and a brother too. For the last darshan, Yamini was placed at Yamini’s School of Dance in Hauz Khas,New Delhi, as her admirers and several students paid their homage to the great classical dancer and mentor, who had completely devoted her life to the promotion and propagation of classical dances on the international platform.

 

Born on 20 December 1940 in Madanapalli, Chittor district of Andhra Pradesh, as the daughter of Prof M Krishnamurthy, Sanskrit scholar. Yamini spent her early years in the premises of the famous Chidambaram temple, as she lived nearby. Yamini says “ As a child I was so attracted to the exquisite sculpteresque poses of Lord Shiva to the extent that I could imagine the poses coming alive and would wonder as to whether I could execute those poses, hence I was naturally drawn to Indian classical dance ,without knowing anything about it. I informed my father that wanted to learn dance, being a literate and a scholarly person, he decided to enrol me at the renowned Kalakshetra School of Dance, established by the legendary Dr Rukmini Devi Arundale”.

 

Yamini was fortunate to learn Bharata Natyam from some of the most respected names like Guru Kancheepuram Ellappa Pillai, Guru Kittappa Pillai of the Pandanallur tradition, Guru Dandayapani Pillai and Mylapore Gowri Ammal. Carnatic vocal from MV Ramanathan and Veena from Kalpaka Swaminathan. Her first Kuchipudi Guru was Narayana Sastry, Venugopal Sarma and, Vempatti Chiina Satyam and Odissi from Guru Pankaj Charan Das.

In the 1960’s Yamini relocated herself to New Delhi. Initially her parents were quite sceptical about her choice of becoming a professional dancer, as it was quite challenging and not lucrative too but adamant Yamini had decided that she would become a professional dancer and would not take up any other profession. After discussions with her intellectual father, Prof M Krishnamurthy, she decided take the risk of becoming a professional dancer. Yamini proudly says “While India was being re discovered by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru , Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders, so too was my career as a classical dancer.

 

Having learnt Bharata Natyam from great masters I realised that many people were not really aware of Kuchipudi, especially overseas, hence I felt since I hail from Andhra Pradesh, its my moral duty to promote and propagate Kuchipudi on the international level. My father being a Sanskrit scholar, could understand and translate the sacred texts like Ramayana ,Mahabharata ,Bhagwatham and the Vedas too, hence am priveleged to have introduced the Vedas in classical dance, moreover my father was wonderful speaker too, before every performance of mine in different countries, would explain the significance of Indian classical dances and the story and the meaning of what I would perform, hence my performances were a fine combination of education, entertainment, aesthetic sensibility and sensuousness for which Kuchipudi is particularly known for, am glad that I was among the first to give Kuchipudi an international standing, for which I owe a lot to my father. After my tour to Cypress and other countries, when I returned to New Delhi, I was informed of my father’s demise. Initially I was very much disturbed but remembered the instructions my father had left that whatever difficulty or tragedy I may have to face but that should not affect my dance which is divine. After he left I could feel the emptiness within me, its been more than twenty years that he has left but the pain will always remain but the countless admirers and the accolades that I receive from the audience, wherever I perform, that keeps me going and my devotion and love for classical dance will always remain the same. My father had said that every dancer cannot become Yamini Krishnamurthy but what is important is to train good dancers,hence I started teaching dance and established Yamini School of Dance in Haus Khas in New Delhi, initially it was overwhelming and realised that I have about 300 students in all age groups and I felt like running away from the scenario, as to manage my several performances and the teaching was not easy but I realised that teaching is a process of learning and to see your students dancing well is quite a satisfying experience, that I always cherish”.

 

While I was a student of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Colaba,Mumbai, 16 years old, I had won a prize for solo dance of Shiva Stuti, taught to me by my mother, Savithri Nair, on the same evening I got a chance to witness the dynamic performance by Yamini Krishnamurthy at the exquisite Shanmukhananda Hall in Matunga, I was completely mesmerised by her vivacious performance, her large expressive eyes, the flambouyant style of leaps and jumps, the technical perfection and rhythmic accuracy and the continuous sway of long plait of hair, left a lasting impression on me, that I decided that I must learn classical dance seriously. I must admit that Yamini is among the best classical dancers I have ever seen.

 

Canadian Prime Minister Pierra Trudeau said after witnessing her performance and holding her hands “Keep dancing,don’t stop,just keep dancing”. Yamini has received national and international honours. PadmaShri at the age of 28 in 1968, Padma Bhushan in 2001,Padma Vibhushan in 2016 and the SNA award in 1977. Yamini has written her autobiography- A Passion For Dance (1995).

 

Dr Sonal Mansingh said “Yamini blazed like a meteor of the dance form for almost four decades. She will be remembered as a dancer who moulded Kuchipudi in her own sensous way”

Guru Rama Vaidyanathan said “ I am blessed to be her first student, she taught me with such genoroisity. We lost a legend, there wont be another Yamini Krishnamurhty in the world of dance”

 

Kuchipudi mentor Guru Jayarama Rao said “ Yamini was among the foremost dancers to popularise Kuchipudi in New Delhi and overseas, her younger sister Jyothi used to sing for her. I used to visit her academy in Hauz Khas, she was delighted to talk to me in Telugu. I will always miss her wonderful personality”.

- GURU VIJAY SHANKER