Kuchipudi is one of the eight major Indian classical dances. It originates from a village named Kuchipudi in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Kuchipudi is a dance-drama performance, with its roots in the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text of Natya Shastra. It developed as a religious art linked to traveling bards, temples and spiritual beliefs, like all major classical dances of India.
Meenakshi Seshadri is a former Indian actress, model and dancer who worked primarily in Hindi films, with few films in Telugu and Tamil. She made her debut with the film Painter Babu (1983) produced by Manoj Kumar. However, it was her second film Hero (1983) which catapulted her to instant stardom. In a career spanning a decade, she established herself as one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses of her time.
Prabhu Deva is an Indian dance choreographer, film director, producer and actor who has worked predominantly in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada language films. In a career spanning 32 years, he has performed and designed dancing styles and has garnered two National Film Awards for Best Choreography. In 2019, he was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to dance.
Indian Nutcracker, also called Swapna Vijayam, is an adaptation of the 1892 ballet The Nutcracker into the South Indian classical dance form of Kuchipudi, with Telugu lyrics. It was first performed on 15 December 2007 at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech, to raise funds for the Emory University Telugu Initiative.
Swarnakamalam is a 1988 Indian Telugu-language dance film written and directed by K. Viswanath. The film stars Venkatesh and Bhanupriya in the lead, while Sharon Lowen appears in a special role. The choreography is helmed by Kelucharan Mohapatra, and Sharon Lowen with soundtrack by Ilaiyaraaja. The song sequences were extensively shot at the Valley of Flowers National Park, the Nanda Devi National Park, the Shanti Stupa and Bhringesvara Siva Temple at Dhauli; and other locations in Visakhapatnam.
Ananda Bhairavi is a 1983 Indian bilingual dance film, simultaneously shot in Telugu and Kannada languages, written, and directed by Jandhyala. It starred Girish Karnad, Kathak dancer Malavika Sarkar, Rajesh Kumar and "Natyacharya" Bhagavathula Venkata Rama Sarma as a male classical dancer in this film. The film was premiered at International Film Festival of India. The film received positive reviews and has garnered the four state Nandi Awards.
Dr Nirmala Visweswara Rao is a classical dancer in kuchipudi and Bharathanatyam
Nataraja Ramakrishna was an Indian dance guru. He was the chairman of Andhra Pradesh Sangeeta Nataka Academy. He was also a scholar and musicologist who promoted classical dance in Andhra Pradesh and worldwide.
Sreerama Chandra Mynampati is an Indian playback singer and actor. He is known for winning the fifth season of the music reality show Indian Idol. He started his career in 2008 as playback singer the Telugu film industry. In 2013, he made his Telugu cinema acting debut with the film Jagadguru Adi Shankara. He has also played the lead in Prema Geema Jantha Nai. He participated in the reality show Bigg Boss Telugu 5 in 2021 and became 2nd runner up of the show.
Raja and Radha Reddy are an Indian Kuchipudi dancing couple, gurus and choreographers. They are renowned as exponents of the South Indian dance form of Kuchipudi. They founded and run the Natya Tarangini Institute of Kuchipudi Dance in New Delhi. The duo are credited with having given Kuchipudi a new dimension without compromising on its traditional virtues. For their services to the field of arts, the Government of India has conferred on them the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards.
Nuvvila is a 2011 Telugu romantic comedy film written and directed by Ravi Babu. He introduced six new faces with this film in lead roles. Ajay, Havish, Yami Gautam, Vijay Deverakonda, Prasad Barve, Sarayu, and Remya Nambeesan. The film features music by Shekar Chandra and is produced by Ramoji Rao.
Achuta Manasa is an Indian Kuchipudi dancer.
Deverakonda Vijay Sai, professionally known as Vijay Deverakonda, is an Indian actor, film producer, and businessman who works predominantly in Telugu films along with a few Hindi and Tamil films. One of the highest-paid actors of Telugu cinema, he has featured in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list since 2018 and has received several accolades including a Filmfare Award, a Nandi Award, and a SIIMA Award.
Usha Srinivasan, more commonly known as Usha, is an Indian film classical dancer specialising in kuchipudi. She was born in a Tamil family. Her father, P. Srinivasan, is a Veda pandit.
Guru Jayarama Rao is a Guru and performer of Kuchipudi style, the classical dance of Andhra Pradesh, India. He has extended the Kuchipudi repertoire.
Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma (1935–2012), popularly known as Satyam, was an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, considered by many as one of the leading exponents of the classical dance form of Kuchipudi. He was known for his portrayal of female characters such as Usha, Satyabhama, Deva Devi, Mohini, Sasirekha and Gollabhama (Gollakalapam). He was a recipient of several honors including Kalidas Samman, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 1970, for his contributions to Dance.
Bhavana Reddy is an Indian classical Kuchipudi dancer, singer, songwriter, and guru/teacher. She is the younger daughter and disciple of renowned dancing couple Raja Radha Reddy and Kaushalya Reddy.
Byrraju Sandhya Raju is an Indian Kuchipudi dancer and actress. She is recipient of a National Film Award.
Natyam is a 2021 Indian Telugu-language dance romantic drama film written, directed, filmed and edited by Revanth Korukonda. The film is produced by Sandhya Raju in addition to playing the main lead role.
Gaddam Padmaja Reddy is an Indian Kuchipudi exponent and music teacher. She performs ballets on mythological themes and contemporary social issues. She choreographed Kakatiyam, a Kuchipudi visual dance form. She was conferred with Kala Ratna in 2006, India's highest art award–Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2015 and Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in the field of art for 2022.
