Fifty years of the Kuchipudi flag

Kuchipudi Natyapathaka marks the continuation of a dance tradition originating in Kuchipudi village

Sometime in 1954, Vedantam Parvateesam designed a flag for the dance form of Kuchipudi. It featured a sugarcane stalk and a pink flag with the pattern of a decorated braid.

Last December, to commemorate 50 years of the Kuchipudi flag, hereditary Kuchipudi guru and founder of Kuchipudi Heritage Arts Society Vedantam Venkata Naga Chalapathi Rao conceptualised the Kuchipudi Natyapathaka Swarnotsavulu in Kuchipudi village, where the art form was born around the 1300s. Rich tributes were paid to Vedantam Parvateesam and his contribution to the art form.  

The event brought together students, performers and academicians. The mornings commenced with prayers at the Balatripurasundari Ammavaaru Ramalingeswara Swamy temple followed by a soulful Nagara Sankeertanam.

Kuchipudi Yakshagana legend Pasumarthi Rattaiah Sarma led a workshop focussed on bhavabhinaya and musicality of Kuchipudi Yakshagana.

There were also insightful seminars by the Kuchipudi Bhagavatulu and other senior Kuchipudi artistes.

Noteworthy performances included a Kuchipudi Yakshagana by students of  Pasumarthi Seshu Babu in Rama Natakam, ‘Mohini Bhasmasura’ by students of Chinta Ravi Balakrishna and Vempati Chinna Satyam’s ‘Ksheera sagara madhanam’ by students of Chavali Balatripurasundari. 

The festival’s finale was the unveiling of a 50-foot stupa and the  hoisting of the Kuchipudi Natyapathaka.