Chinta Ramamurthy

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Chinta Ramamurthy was a prominent figure in the Kuchipudi tradition of Indian classical dance, hailing from the illustrious Chinta family of Kuchipudi village, Andhra Pradesh. He was the son of Chinta Venkataramayya, who founded the renowned Venkatarama Natya Mandali. Ramamurthy received his training in Kuchipudi from his father, Chinta Venkataramayya. Following the passing of his father in 1949, Chinta Ramamurthy, alongside his younger brother Chinta Krishnamurthy, played a crucial role in sustaining and advancing the Kuchipudi movement. The brothers successfully unified several existing Kuchipudi troupes, including Mahankali Melamu, Pasumarthi Melamu, and Bhagavatula Melamu, under the banner of the Venkatrama Natya Mandali, thereby preserving and promoting their ancestral art form. Chinta Ramamurthy was a respected guru, imparting his knowledge to the next generation of Kuchipudi dancers. His notable disciples included his son, Chinta Ravi Balakrishna, who himself became an acclaimed Kuchipudi artist and a recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. Other significant students included Krishna Murthy, known for his abhinaya and female roles, who later became a dance director in films, and Vedantam Parvateesam, a founding member and principal of the Siddhendra Kalakshetram. Chinta Ramamurthy passed away in 1950. He is remembered as a stalwart of the Kuchipudi dance form, contributing significantly to its continuity and development through his performances, teaching, and leadership within the Venkatrama Natya Mandali.