In 1973 the Government of Andhra Pradesh commissioned and produced a film on Kuchipudi. The 38 minute film was shot in Kuchipudi village and featured the Siddhendra Kalakshetram school of classical dance and music, led by Kuchipudi stree-vesham exponent, Padmasri Vedantam Satyanarayana Sharma.
It is a fascinating film featuring: young boys doing prepatory exercises (dandemu, chakradandemu, ekapada dandemu, gunjeelu, kailsamu, kappilu, moggalu etc) now largely disgarded in dance classes; Padmasri Vedantam Satyanarayana Sharma teaching; pada bhedas unique to Kuchipudi (sakatavadana); Dasavatharam; Balagopala Tarangam; and a Kuchipudi Yakshagana (Bhakta Prahalad) featuring the late Vedantam Rattayya Sarma in one of his famous roles and a traditional Sutradhara.
Other dancers featured include Sumathy Kaushal, Kumari Lanka Annapurna Devi, Kumari K. Prameela, Kumari Gadde Lala, Sri Vedantam Rattayya Sarma, Sri Pasumarthi Rattayya, Sri Pasumarthi Sai Babba, Sri Prabhala Murali, and Kumari Saraswathy Jyotsna.
A generous youtube user (tripmonk0, who also has a rich video archive of other Indian Arts) has uploaded excerpts from the film.
| Description | 1 reel. 21 1/2 min. 777 ft. : sd. color. ; 16 mm. |
| Note | Produced for the Government of Andhra Pradesh, India. Production, script, and direction: T. A. Abraham. Photography: M. K. Vighne. Music: Vijay Raghav Rao. Words: S. V. Vasudev. Voice: Partap Sharma. Consultant: Padmasri Vedantam Satyanarayana Sharma. |
The original youtube videos for part 1 can be found here. And part 2 here.
This is an amazing blog! A veritabl treasure trove of information for people passionate about Kuchipudi like me. Please Keep up the wonderful work!!
Coming to myself, I learnt Kuchipudi for seven years as a child, yet later, had to stop in pursuit of the engineering dreams of my parents. I am currently enrolled in BITS Pilani, and give performances in campus sometimes. I am more into research nowadays, on the ancient practices of Kuchipudi, its extremely fascinating, like Prenkhini Nartanam and so on.
I created an account in WordPress just because I couldn’t contain myself from applauding your work and dedication!
Cheers,
Harish.