Chinta Krishna Murthy

🪔 About

Chinta Krishna Murthy (1912-1969) was a highly renowned Indian classical dance guru and performer of Kuchipudi, born in the village of Kuchipudi, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India. He was the son of Chinta Venkataramayya, who established the famous Venkatarama Natya Mandali in 1865. Krishna Murthy was initiated into dance by his father and further honed his skills, also mastering music under the tutelage of Yeleswarapu Sitharaamaanjaneyulu. His career began as a child artist, portraying roles such as Prahlada, Lava, and Kusha. As he matured, he excelled in heroic characters like Harishchandra, Rama, Krishna, Arjuna, Lakshana, Rukmangada, and Devendra. He was particularly celebrated for his portrayals of Harishchandra, Krishna, Paamulavaadu (Singadu) in Bhaktha Prahlada, and Chaakali in Raamanaatakam. Chinta Krishna Murthy played a pivotal role in the Kuchipudi tradition. He led the Venkatarama Natya Mandali after his elder brother's death, organizing and touring with it across Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India, significantly raising awareness of the Kuchipudi legacy. A lasting contribution was his crucial involvement, alongside Banda Kanakalingeswara Rao, in establishing the Shri Siddhendra Kalakshetram in Kuchipudi, a premier institution for traditional Kuchipudi training, where he served as Principal and Kulapathi. He also meticulously documented Yakshagaanaas in 1959 at All India Radio, Vijayawada, and abridged the lengthy "Bhaktha Prahlada" dance drama for contemporary audiences. For his immense contributions to the development of Kuchipudi dance, Chinta Krishna Murthy was honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1968. The Andhra Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi also bestowed upon him the title 'Bharata Kalaprapurna' in the same year. He trained a generation of Kuchipudi actor-dancers, leaving an indelible mark on the art form. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1968), Bharata Kalaprapurna (1968).