Chime of the anklet bells diminishes as patronage for Kuchipudi dwindles Premium

Fewer employment opportunities and scholarships forcing youth to look for alternative sources of income

At Kuchipudi, a village that saw the birth of one of the nine classical dance forms of the country, the lanes that once reverberated with the sound of anklet bells and bustled with youngsters lie silent now.

In the earlier days, Kuchipudi used to be performed by all-male troupes, not because there was any rule prohibiting women from embracing the dance form, but due to lack of transport facilities that made it difficult for them to travel.

In those days, youngsters, mostly men, from far and near, used to throng the village for learning the art form. It is said that in early 20th century, every house in the village had a male performer.

Today, there is a decline both in the male and female performers.

“From 500 traditional families that were engaged in learning, performing and teaching the art earlier, the number has dwindled to seven,” says noted Kuchipudi exponent Pasumarthy Rattayya Sarma.

“The reasons are more than one,” says the 82-year-old Sangeet Natak Akademi award winner.

“When I was 10, we used to participate in more than 120 programmes a year across the country. In those days, any function, or a celebratory moment wasn’t complete without our participation. We used to perform at the Vijayawada railway station every time a dignitary arrived,” he reminisces.