Pasumarti Venugopala Krishna Sarma

🪔 About

Pasumarti Venugopala Krishna Sarma, a legendary figure in Indian classical dance, was a renowned Kuchipudi guru, performer, and choreographer. Born in Kuchipudi village, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, in 1929, he dedicated his life to the art form. He received his foundational training in dance-drama from esteemed gurus Chinta Venkataramayya and Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastri. Further enriching his artistic prowess, he also studied music under Yeleswarapu Seetha Venkataramanjaneyulu. Sarma was celebrated for his exceptional talent as a theatre personality, particularly excelling as a female impersonator in Kuchipudi dance-dramas and yakshaganas. He was a prominent actor-dancer for many years, associated with the Venkatarama Natya Mandali and the Shri Siddhendra Kalakshetram. His commitment to the institution saw him serve as its principal, where he played a crucial role in preserving and promoting the traditional art form. He was known for his innovative experiments in the Kuchipudi dance style, particularly with regard to Yakshagana patterns, presentations, and aharyas. Throughout his illustrious career, Sarma performed for distinguished personalities, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vinobha Bhave, and Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy. His contributions extended to media, with a National Programme of Dance from Delhi Doordarshan Kendra in 1959 and involvement in documentaries like "Prahlada" and "Bhama Kalapam" for the Central Films Division in 1972. As a dedicated teacher, he trained a vast number of students, many of whom became stalwarts in the Kuchipudi tradition. Pasumarti Venugopala Krishna Sarma passed away on June 3, 2012, at the age of 86. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987), Kalaratna (2012).