Tales of Gods and Love - A Kuchipudi Recital by Sandhya Raju at Shilpa Kala Vedika, Hyderabad

Sandhya Raju's Tales of Gods and Love Kuchipudi dance & Choreography enthralls audience

Kuchipudi exponent Sandhya Raju gave a commendable performance at the Shilpa Kala Vedika on sunday morning. Hyderabad's Dance lovers had a great time appreciating her performance from beginning of the recital to its finale.

The packed auditorium had many special guests that included Shri. KT Rama Rao, Minister for municipal administration and urban development , Actor , producer Ram Charan Tej, family, friends as well as large number of dance and cultural art admirers who applauded the artist and her first kuchipudi choreography presention.

Sandhya Raju's " Tales of Gods and Love'' was her first choreographed dance performance as well as a traditional kuchipudi solo repertoire. Her timing was accurate, movements were precise and expressions were mesmerising.

The Tales of Gods and Love is a beautiful thread of kuchipudi items. The dance began with a traditional kuchipudi prayer song. It was followed by lighting of the lamp and then the beautifully choreographed Pranavakaram,Siddhi Vinayakam (an invocatory item in praise of lord Ganesha), Muddugare Yashodha ( an item that compares various aspects and shades of Krishna's life to the nava ratnas) , Brahmamokate ( a beautiful messsage on equality which resonates through all times) and finally the modern kuchipudi Shringara Veera inspired by the ancient dance drama format of kuchipudi dance kept the audience mesmerised.

While Sandhya Raju dedicated one item in the series for Shri. KT Rama Rao and Actor Ram Charan Tej, they both applauded her dedication to revive kuchipudi and her school Nishrinkala Dance Academy initiative to nurture young Kuchipudi talents.

Sandhya Raju represents the ‘refined’ style of Kuchipudi as developed by the maestro dance director Vempati Pedda Satyam in the 1940s and perhaps more so by his illustrious younger brother Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam.

Over a period of time Sandhya, a disciple of Guru Vempati and Kishore Mosalikanti, has developed a distinctive style of her own.

After the solo performance of Sandhya Raju students of her ‘Nishrinkala Dance Academy’ performed the Taayamaalika Thillana an ever green and popular dance. Moving to the rythm and beats the dance expressed the music through joyful abstract , body movement and patterns.

The whole dance program was innovative and reflected the elegance and authenticity of Kuchipudi right through.