Patruni Chidananda Sastry

🪔 About

Patruni Chidananda Sastry, also known by the aliases Sas Who Maa and previously Suffocated Art Specimen, is a multifaceted artist from Hyderabad, India. Their artistic journey began at the age of seven, encompassing classical Indian dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Kuchipudi, alongside contemporary dance and the avant-garde art form of Butoh. Sastry received Bharatanatyam training under the guidance of Sri Kalamandalam Venkata, Smt. Vaidehi Subhash, and Sri Hari Mangalampalli. They also studied Odissi with Swayam Pragyan Sahoo and Preeti Mohapatra, and Kuchipudi with Sri Siva Kumar. Sastry holds a diploma in Bharatanatyam and a certification in Butoh from KEOI University in Japan. Sastry has developed a unique style called "Expressionism," which blends classical Indian dance vocabulary with contemporary performance art to tell stories and raise social awareness. Beyond classical dance, Patruni is a performance artist, visual artist, model, human rights activist, podcaster, and a Tranimal drag queen. Their work often addresses social topics like sex education, queer activism, interfaith acceptance, and women's empowerment. Sastry is the author of "Life is Drag: Sas it Up," the first autobiography by an Indian drag queen, and "Drag Sastra: A Queer Lens on Natya Shastra for the Drag Artist," which explores the linkages between drag and Indian classical dance traditions. They are also the founder of Dragvanti, an online platform for India's drag community. Patruni Chidananda Sastry has performed at various national and international dance festivals, including the Golden Beach Festival and the Kalpashree Dance Festival. Awards & Honours: Voice of Pride, Bala Chitra Ratna, International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participant, Absolut Ally campaign feature (2024).