Vempati Chinna Satyam was born in a Brahmin family at Kuchipudi village, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh on 15th October, 1929. He started learning this dance form at the tender age of nine. Under the guidance of three great Gurus, Vempati Chinna Satyam mastered in Kuchipudi. He was taught Kuchipudi dance by Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sastry. He then honed his skills by learning from Sri Tadepally Perrayya Sastry and at the age of 18 he moved to Madras with the intention of spreading Kuchipudi dance. He got further training to know the nuances in Kuchipudi from his elder brother (cousin) Sri Vempati Pedda Satyam who was already a well-established choreographer and dance director in Telegu film industry.
Those were the formative years of many cultural institutions across the country in general and South in particular. Theosophist and Bharatanatyam dancer Rukmini Devi Arundale had established Kalakshetra in Chennai, Poet Vallathol Narayana Menon’s Kalamandalam was active in Kerala to revitalise Kathakali dance, the Madras Music Academy in Chennai was thriving with regular concerts of the most celebrated maestros of that generation.
Vempati Chinna Satyam took two rupees from his older sister and walked all the way from Kuchipudi village in Andhra Pradesh to the Gudur railway station in Nellore district bordering Tamil Nadu. Fatigued after walking nearly 400 km, he was sleeping at the station when a Train Ticket Examiner woke him up, invited him home for a meal and gave him some money. With that money Vempati Chinna Satyam reached his dream destination, Madras.
Vempati Chinna Satyam’s devotion and dedication towards Kuchipudi dance finally resulted in the establishment of Kuchipudi Art Academy in Madras on 6th February, 1963. The platform was set to take Kuchipudi dance from the confines of his remote village and spread it across the world.
History of Kuchipudi dance
Bharata Muni in his Natya Shastra mentions an elegant dance movement “Kaishiki Vritti” and a raga called “Andhri” while drawing reference to Andhra region. The 10th century copper inscriptions mention about the existence of Shaivism associated dance drama performance called “Brahmana Melas “or “Brahma Melas” in South India in Telugu speaking regions. Vaishnavism tradition that includes devotional music and dance dedicated to Sri Krishna and evolved during the 2nd millennium presumably embraced this art form. It developed in South India’s Tamil region as ‘Bhagavata Mela Nataka’ and in Andhra region as Kuchipudi.
Historically the Kuchipudi dance tradition was the privilege of male performers who donned every role on stage. Over time, Kuchipudi had attained a point of stagnation. Men over-dramatisizing female characters became a bane. It took a great amount of skill and finesse to play a female character and the legendary Vedantam Satyanarayana Sharma excelled in it. Kuchipudi was not yet recognized as a classical dance form because of the strong roots it had in the dance-drama tradition. Historically, Kuchipudi dance form consisted of dance dramas to depict the tales of Sri Krishna as described in Bhagavatham. Siddhendra Yogi (14th century) modified the then existing Yakshagana folk dance drama format of Kuchipudi by incorporating the principles of Natya Shastra and brought aesthetic touch and elegance to Kuchipudi dance. While Bharatnatyam is known for precise and rhythmic footwork, Kuchipudi has more graceful and rounded steps and footwork.
Vempati Chinna Satyam’s in-depth study of Natyashastra, Abhinaya Darpanam and other seminal texts on dance in addition to the exposure he got to Chennai’s rich cultural life aided him in bringing a unique format, transforming the shape of the very dance form of Kuchipudi for ever. Satyam strongly believed that it was better if women were allowed to perform female roles.
A strict disciplinarian and an ace Natyacharya, Vempati Chinna Satyam was the trend setter who gave Kuchipudi dance the universal recognition it deserved. Vempati with his large group of students travelled several countries and spread the Kuchipudi dance across the world. Many of his disciples have opened institutions across the world for training scores of students.
The Academy has to its credit more than 180 solo items and 15 dance dramas composed and choreographed by Chinna Satyam. These solo items and dramas have been staged all over India and abroad. He composed his first dance drama Sri Krishna Parijatham in the same period followed by another hit Ksheera Sagara Madanam and played the lead role. His portrayal of Bhagwan Shiva and his choreography was well received.
The dance ballets produced by Vempati Chinna Satyam include Padmavati Srinivasa Kalyanam, Vipranarayana Charitam, Menaka Viswamitra, Kalyana Sakuntalam, Bhama Kalapam, Chandalika, Padmavathi Sreenivasa Kalyanam, Rukmini Kalyanam, Hara Vilasam, Siva Dhanurbhangam and Ardha Nareeswaram. Vempati Chinna Satyam sublimated Kuchipudi within the boundaries of the Natya Sastra and elevated it to classical form of dance.
Trinity of Kuchipudi Art Academy
His greatest contribution to the Kuchipudi dance was not only his brilliant choreography but also the systematization of the Kuchipudi repertoire consistent with the treatise of the Natya Sastra. Without sacrificing its native charm, he enhanced the dance form with more classical attributes. In Kuchipudi Art Academy training was given to the disciples not only in Kuchipudi dance but also in basic classical music. The trinity of Kuchipudi Art Academy, Sri. S.V. Bhujangayaya Sarma (lyrics), Sri. Patrayani Sangeeta Rao (music), and Vempati Chinna Satyam (choreography) has churned out innumerable pearls and gems from the ocean of Kuchipudi dance, close to three decades, in the form of ballets, that are popular even today.
Chinna Satyam also started Kuchipudi Kalakshatra in 1985 in Vizag.
Awards and accolades
Vempati Chinna Satyam was conferred with many titles and awards such as “Sangeet Peeth of Bombay”, “Asthana Natyacharya of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam”, T.T.K. Memorial Award by Madras Music Academy, “Natya Kalasaagara of Waltair”, “Raja-Lakshmi Award of Madras”, “Kalaprapoorna” from Andhra University, “Natya Kala Bhushana of Guntur”, “Bharatha Kalaprapoorna of Hyderabad”, D. Litt. from Sri Venkateswara University, “Asthana Natyacharya of Pittsburgh”, and “National Award from Central Sangeet Naatak Akademi, New Delhi”. He was awarded by many state governments of India such as Kalidas Puraskar by the Government of Madhya Pradesh and Kalaimamani by the Government of Tamil Nadu. He was honoured with a Doctorate degree by Andhra University. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1991.
In 1984, he was presented a Golden Key by the Mayor of Miami. Ohio; 27th April, 1984 was declared as Classical Indian Kuchipudi Ballet Dance Drama Day by the Mayor of Gahanna, Ohio; September 24, 1994 as Ramayanam Day by the Mayor of Memphis and he was also awarded a key of the city. 25th September, 1994, was announced as Vempati Chinna Satyam Day by the Mayor of Dayton, and 3rd November 1994 was declared as Kuchipudi Dance Drama Day by the The Mayor of Atlanta.
Vyjayanthimala, Hema Malini, Rekha, Jyalalitha, Shobha Naidu, Yamini Krishna Murthy, Bhanupriya, Meenakshi Seshadri are some of the famous personalities who learnt Kuchipudi dance under his tutelage.
Vempati Chinna Satyam passed away on 29th July, 2012 at the age of 83. His legacy continues in India and abroad through his numerous disciples who have set up dance schools to train the young generation.
References:
http://andhraportal.org/personalities-vempati-chinna-satyam/
https://www.veethi.com/india-people/vempati_chinna_satyam-profile-2493-42.htm
Kathakali is an awe-inspiring art form that mesmerizes audiences with its blend of dance, drama, music, and makeup. The performers, through their elaborate costumes, expressive movements, and exemplary acting skills, bring alive the characters and stories they portray. Their dedication and years of training are evident in every nuanced movement and expression, creating an unforgettable experience for the viewers. Kathakali serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of India and the artistic prowess of its performers.
https://www.indianetzone.com/18/performance_kathakali_dancers.htm
Kuchipudi dance, originally known as Kuchelapuri or Kuchelapuram, is a classical dance form that emerged from the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. With its roots deeply intertwined with the Bhakti (devotion) movement of the seventh century A.D., Kuchipudi derives its name from the village of Kuchelapuram in Krishna district, near Vijayawada. Kuchipudi performances are characterized by their vibrant energy and expressive movements. Dancers seamlessly transition between vigorous footwork, graceful gestures, and dramatic facial expressions. The dance style combines both tandava (vigorous masculine movements) and lasya (graceful feminine movements), showcasing a perfect balance between power and grace. Intricate footwork patterns and rhythmic patterns called jatis add to the dynamic nature of the performance.
https://www.indianetzone.com/1/kuchipudi.htm