Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)

Key Pointers

Origin: Village Kuchipudi (Krishna district), Andhra Pradesh; founded by Siddhendra Yogi (c. 14th–15th century) who composed Bhama Kalapam.
Tradition: Evolved from Yakshagana; originally performed by male Brahmin troupes (Bhagavatulu), with men playing female roles (Stri Vesham). Later, solo female performers emerged (Vempati Chinna Satyam, Lakshmi Narayana Shastri).
Content: Mix of Nritta (pure dance), Nritya (expressional dance) and Natya (drama); themes include Vaishnavism.
Features: Fast rhythmic footwork; flowing movements; dancers sing and speak (dance-drama); 'Tarangam' (dancing on the rim of a brass plate while balancing a pot of water on the head).
Costume: Similar to Bharatanatyam; women wear a silk sari with a braided hair adorned with jasmine; ornaments of light Burugu wood.
Music: Carnatic; Mridangam, violin, flute, tambura; lyrics in Telugu.
Exponents: Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Raja and Radha Reddy, Swapna Sundari, Vempati Chinna Satyam.
Texts: Natyashastra, Abhinaya Darpana.

MCQs

Q1. The 'Bhama Kalapam' is associated with:
(a) Odissi
(b) Kuchipudi
(c) Kathakali
(d) Sattriya
Answer: (b). Composed by Siddhendra Yogi.

Q2. 'Tarangam' is a unique feature of:
(a) Kathak
(b) Kuchipudi
(c) Manipuri
(d) Mohiniyattam
Answer: (b). The dancer performs on the rim of a brass plate.

Q3. Kuchipudi evolved from the dance-drama tradition of:
(a) Yakshagana
(b) Bhavai
(c) Jatra
(d) Ramlila
Answer: (a).