VEDANTAM RAMACHANDRA VARA PRASAD (Vedantam Ramu)

Born into the traditional Kuchipudi dance family on June 01, 1957 to Bharatakala Prapoorna Sri Vedantam Raghavaiah (Cinema Director and Producer; Directed Devadas, Anarkali, etc.) and Smt. Ramalakshmi at Kuchipudi Village, AP.

Vedantam Ramu talks about his father and also is seen here dancing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6L7uRgu1wQ
Vedantam Ramu in a recent lecture demo.

His qualifications include

· Natya Visharad from Kuchipudi Art Academy under Guru Padmabhushan

Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, Chennai.

· Yakshagana Diploma in Kuchipudi Dance; Potti Sriramulu Telugu

University, Kuchipudi Center; Passed in First Class; 2005.

· Diploma Course in Kuchipudi Dance; Potti Sriramulu Telugu University,

Kuchipudi Center; Passed in Distinction; 2004.

· Certificate Course in Kuchip'udi Dance; Potti Sriramulu Telugu University,

Kuchipudi Center; Passed in First Class; 2002.

Hails from a traditional dance family and thus learnt dance right from his childhood from eminent Gurus at Sri. Sidhandra Kala Kshetram in Kuchipudi Village and later from Dr. Vempati Chinna Sat yam, Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS

Natya Visharad Guru Sri Vedantam Ramachandra Vara Prasad (Ramu) is a well-known artist and legend in Kuchipudi style of classical dance in India. He has been teaching Kuchipudi style of dance since last three decades. He has been conferred with Natya Visharad from Kuchipudi Art Academy and diploma in Yakshagana & Kuchipudi dance from Kuchipudi Center of Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Andhra Pradesh.

He has hailed from a traditional dance family and learnt dance right from his childhood from eminent Gurus like Sri. Sidhandra Kala Kshetram in Kuchipudi Village and Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai. He has performed Natuvangam (Sutradhari) and dance for his Guru Padmabhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Sat yam in over 6000 programs all over India since his childhood. He has participated in Yekshaganas, Ushaparinayam, Ramanatakam and Vipranarayana Charitram, etc. in Kuchipudi Village. He has also participated and performed in various programmes in abroad like USA, USSR, Singapore and Malaysia. In addition, he has worked with various well known Kuchipudi dance performers of India.

Sri Vedantam Ramu has re-choreographed Bhamakalapam (Yakshaganam) and Srikrishna Parijatam (Kuchipudi dance ballet). In addition, he has choreographed solo items and group dances in Kuchipudi style and performed in many television programmes in ‘Doordarshan’. He has participated in various solo and ballets like Ksherasagaramadanam, Srinivasa Kalyanam Chandalika, haravilasam, Rukmini Kalyanam. Ramayanam, etc. under Padmabhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Sat yam. He has also participated in major dance festivals in India.

He has received a scholarship from the Government of India in Kuchipudi dance during the year 1981 to 1983 and was appointed as a judge for Kuchipudi dance competitions by the Government of India (Department of Culture and Tourism) and Government of Kerala. He was nominated as one of the Members of the Committee to prepare textbooks in special Kuchipudi dance for Karnataka State (appointed by 'the Directorate of Textbooks, Government of Karnataka). He was also appointed as an Examiner at Kuchipudi Centre in Potti Sriramulu Telugu University for a Certificate Diploma: course in Yakshagana Diploma and Postgraduate degree in Arts during the year 2001. In addition, he was appointed as an Instructor at Kuchipudi Village during the year of 2003-2004 by Potti Sriramulu Telugu University.

Sri Vedantam Ramu is aged about 50 years and was born to Smt. Ramalakshmi and Bharatakala Praporna Sri Vedantam Raghavaiah in Kuchipudi Village in Andhra Pradesh of India. His father was a well-known cinema director & producer and directed many famous movies like Devadas, Anarkali, etc. He is quite versatile in many languages like Telugu, English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS

· Associated with Kuchipudi Art Academy since 1974. Teaching Kuchipudi style of dance since last three decades. Presently, working as a Main Lecturer in Kuchipudi Art Academy in Chennai under Padmabhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. Also served as a Main Lecturer and taught Kuchipudi dance at Kuchipudi Art Academy, Hyderabad during the year 1980-1981.

· Performed Natuvangam (Sutradhari) and dance for his Guru Padmabhushan Dr.Vempati Chinna Satyam in over 6000 programs all over India since his childhood.

· Participated in Yekshaganas, Ushaparinayam, Ramanatakam and Vipranarayana Charitram, etc. in Kuchipudi Village.

· Participated and performed in various programmes in abroad - USA (1984), USSR (1987 for the Festival of India), Singapore (1987) and Malaysia (1985).

· Conducted Rangapravesam (Arangetram) to his disciple Miss. Colagotla Aparna (USA) during the year 1996 at Music Academy Mini Hall;

· Worked with the following well known Kuchipudi dance performers:

· On the occasion of 30^th Annual Celebrations of Lakshmi Kuchipudi Center humbly given the title “NATYA NIDHI” on 17^th April 2010.

· Kalasagar- Shoranur – Kerala – India given the Kalasagar Award on 28^th May 2010.

Mrs. Manju Bhargavi (India);
Mrs. Hema Chowdary (India);
Mrs. Kamala Reddy (USA); oMs. Sasikala (USA);
Mrs. Padma Mennen (Australia);
Mrs. Pratibha Prahalad (USA);
Mr. Ratnapapa (USA); and
Mr. & Mrs. Vanashree Jayarama Rao (India)

· Re-choreographed Bhamakalapam (Yakshaganam) and Srikrishna Parijatam (Kuchipudi dance ballet). Also, choreographed solo items and group dances in Kuchipudi style. In addition, he has performed in many television programmes in ‘Doordarshan’.

· Participated in various solo and ballets like Ksherasagaramadanam, Srinivasa Kalyanam Chandalika, haravilasam, Rukmini Kalyanam. Ramayanam, etc. under Padmabhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam.

· Participated in the following major dance festivals in India:

Malabar Dance Festival in Kerala;
Kuchipudi Dance Festival in Kuchipudi Village;
Konark Dance Festival in Orissa;
Kajuraho Dance Festival;
Chidambaram Dance Festival;
Dance Festivals in Delhi - Upna Ushtsav; and
Brahmotsav at Chennai, Chudambaram, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Thirupathi.

RECOGNITIONS AND HONORS

Recipient of scholarship from the Government of India in Kuchipudi dance during the year 1981 to 1983.

· Nominated as one of the Members of the Committee to prepare textbooks in special Kuchipudi dance for Karnataka State - Appointed by the Directorate of Textbooks, Government of Karnataka.

Appointed as a judge for Kuchipudi dance competitions by the Government of India (Department of Culture and Tourism) and Government of Kerala.
Natya Kala Praveena Title given from Vijayawada Cultural Academy, Vijayawada on 15.03.2008.
Received Siva Foundation Award in the year 2009.
Appointed as an Examiner at Kuchipudi Centre in Potti Sriramulu Telugu University for a Certificate Diploma course in Yakshagana Diploma and Postgraduate degree in Arts during the year 2001. In addition, appointed as an Instructor at Kuchipudi Village during the year of 2003 – 2004 by Potti Sriramulu Telugu University.
Received Vocational Excellence Award from Rotary Club of Madras, Silver Beach on October 30^th, 2010 for outstanding contribution to Kuchipudi Dance.

email.vedantamramu@yahoo.co.in

ramuvedantam@gmail.com

Mobile: +91 9444-853333

Published by PANCHAMAVEDAM FOUNDATION.

BHARATA KALA PRAPURNA

Sri Vedantam Raghavaiah,

A Kuchipudi Legend

Reams of papers have been written about a fascinating, colossal and legendary personality - Vedantam Raghavaiah, who ruled the world of Kuchipudi & South Indian filmdom as an uncrowned King for over four & half decades (47years) in 20th century. One can never get tired of retelling his story since the greater heights reached by him in both the classical dance form and the glamour cinema world are firmly etched as one of the golden period of Kuchipudi. He was destined to be great, since he was born in Kuchipudi, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh to one of the traditional Vedantam families. Vedantam families migrated (11 generations) from Kunchavaram Agraharam near Tenali. This Agraharam was gifted by Raja Venkatadrinaidu to YAJURVEDIC Brahmins (Ghanapaties) of VEDANTAM families, one of the torch bearers for centuries of the popular classical art form of Andhra Pradesh.

He was born on June 8^th, 1919 to Vedantam Ramayya and Annapurnamma. He married his own maternal uncle Hari Punnaiah's five year old daughter Sriramalakshmi at the age of nine in the year 1928 by in Kuchipudi in a grand way based on prevalent custom of peforming the marriage spread over five days. He is survived by four children.

1. Bokka Lalithadevi Sitharamaiah.

2. Mantrala Rajyalakshmi Umamaheswararao

3. B. Madhusudhana Sankar.

4. Vedantam Ramachandra Varaprasad ( Ramu)

He started his formal training in Dance (Yakshagana) and Music (Yakshagana Sampradaya Sangeetam) from his own father at a very tender age of five and later he continued under the tutelage of Yakshagana Pitamaha Sri Chinta Venkararamayya and Natyakalanidhi, Shadbharathkalanidhi, Abhinaya Brahma Sri Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastry. He had also mastered the languages of Sanskrit & Telugu from one of his cousins and Scholar, Bhagavatula Sitaramaswami within a very short span of time because by birth he is considered as an ‘Ekasanthagrahi. He very quickly became one of the star students of Kuchipudi Yakshagana tradition and also a poet (Asukavi).

He plunged head long with his heart and soul with an unknown level of devotion & passion and quickly imbibed the various techniques of dance, music and tala and above all stage presentation, simultaneously absorbing all the nuances of laya under a genius ‘Laya Brahma’ (Kaliyuga Satyabhama) Vempati Venkatanarayana. When most kids of his age were busy with their play toys, Raghavaiah, toyed with (dance) plays, made his debut performance at the age of seven, as Prahlada, which was awarded at many quarters including a Gold medal by the British Government. According to many artistes of his time, this signaled the ‘Golden Era of Kuchipudi’, since this is acclaimed to be the first such recorded accolade given to the art form by the then rulers of the land. From then on there was no looking back and he excelled in the roles of Lohitasya, Lava Kusa and others. However, his specialty or penchant if one can say so, was that of female impersonator. He became one of the outstanding female impersonator of his time by mastering the Kaisiki vritti.

Raghavaiah who was equally adept in music world & Kuchipudi traditional music (Kuchipudi Sampradaya Sangitam), sang while performing like Kuchipudi Yakshagana artists playing on the ‘Mukhya Sancharas’ or the key-notes of every raga of any daruvu and this made his performance very memorable and soul stirring.

His effortless performances in the characters of

Usha in Ushaparinayam,

Sita in Ramanataka yakshaganam,

Leelavathi, in Prahalada yakshaganam,

Chandramathi, in Harischandra nataka yakshaganam,

Sasirekha, in Sasirekhaparinaya yakshaganam,

Mohini in Mohini Rukmangada yakshaganam and

Satyabhama in Bhamakalapa yakshaganam are still revered.

Folklore says that people used to travel miles to see him in his famous female impersonator (Rupanurupam) roles. Seeing his soul stirring performance in ‘Ushaparinayam’ was considered to be enough for attaining liberation and thus people used to come in droves from afar as if it was a pilgrimage to watch him perform.

In the days where there were no action replays, freeze frames, giant screens, dolby sound systems, etc., it is learnt that the plays of Vedantam Raghavaiah not only attracted audience from far and wide but also they were at times, unruly and difficult to control since all of them wanted to a closer view from a vantage position. This necessitated, perhaps for the first time, police protection / intervention in such performances of the time.

Just when he was being branded as an excellent female impersonator, he took it upon himself and created waves by performing the key male roles like Harischandra, Hiranyakashyapa, Rama and Krishna. Any role played by him became a rave among the audience and he carried with aplomb, not even suggesting an iota, the difficulty of playing such versatile roles. He performed unique items like Bala Gopala Tarangam with dancing on brass plate balancing a water vessel on his head. He has the unique distinction of being one of the first to perform Narayana Theertha’s “ Krinshna Leela Tarangini” Taragam called Balagopala by including the brass plate and water vessel (a small pot) depicting the Yoga Sastra slokha

‘Punkhanu Punkhavishaye kshanatatparopi

bramhavalokanadhiyam najahatiyogi

sangeeta Tala vadya vasamgatapi

moulista kumbha parirakshana dhirnativa’.

The meaning of the sloka is that a Yogi who sits on meditation reaches the Parabrahma state unmindful of having to go through lot of distractions on the way is called as a Siddhayogi. Likewise the dancer who stands on the brass plate and balances the water vessel on the head and successfully completes the dance is called as Natyasidhi. He performed this dance in the film Mohini Rukmangada also.

His solo items included ‘Saa Virahe Thavadeenaa Radha’ from Jayadeva’s Ashatapadi, the Dasavathara Shabdam written by Sidhabattula Rangadasu of Pedapulivarru, Andhara Pradesh (also performed in the film ‘Raitu Bidda’) and ‘Kanto Yaasyathi Dura Desa Mithi’ slokam from Pushpa Bana Vilasam, javalis, shabdas among others. It is felt that his abhinayas as a Kuchipudi artist is par excellence and nobody could equal him up to this day.

His solo item – the much acclaimed Siva thandavam, where he danced as Siva was also featured in the film Maya lokam.

He performed the character of Usha (lady personification) of Ushaparinaya Yakshaganam, taking just a pallavi of the daruvu ‘Anangudun ghanam batanchu from night to sunrise of the next day showing variations of abhinaya and dance in the character. His astonishing variations of just one pallavi kept lakhs of audience enthralled the whole night. He was honoured with “Simhatalata Ghantaakankana”.

The great Harikatha Pitamaha, Aadibhattla Narayana dasu garu was very much impressed with Raghavaiah’s Yakshagana performances and honoured him with “Gandapenderam”.

His lady personification roles were very much popular and had a huge fan following including that of Zamindars of the time. He was honoured with silk sarees, gold medals by the Zamindar Chalapalli Raja.

As long as he was in the Kuchipudi village, the whole kuchipudi dance world revolved around Raghavaih – which is called as Raghavaiah’s Sakam.

His eyes were set next from being a dancer to create dance and the natural corollary of becoming a Choreographer. Vedantam Raghavaiah founded an innovative, unique group called the ‘Prabhakara Natya Mandali’, gathering the talented Kuchipudi youth of the time, such as Vempati Pedda Satyam, Pasumarthy Krishnamurthy etc., and used his ingenious ideas to improvise and showcase new pieces as a trend setter.

Being reckoned a great dancer par excellence and a good choreographer, his period of performance was said to be called as the ‘Era of Raghavaiah’, inducing the scholars of his time to give him a title of ‘Sakapurusha’ or ‘Man of the Era’

In the year, 1938 at Machilipattanam, Sri K.V.Ramachandran from Chennai saw Raghavaiah’s USHA character of USHAPARINAYAM, wrote about Raghavaiah in Triveni magazine as ‘Vedantam Raghavaiah claims the honours as the best exponent of this (kuchipudi) school by his amazing record in speedy execution’. Thus having won the hearts of both art lovers and critics, word of his talent, name and fame travelled the entire length and breadth of the dance fraternity. This led his foray to the silver screen. A bold director, Sri Gudavali Ramabrahmam of Sarathy films, who stumbled upon this idea of showcasing Kuchipudi art form in celluloid for the first time, made way for the uncrowned King of Kuchipudi, Sri Vedantam Raghavaiah to make his debut in films with the movie Raithubidda (1939) as a traditional Dasavatara Sabdam.

Raghavaiah’s journey in filmdom took him from being an actor to that of dance director and his contributions to show case Kuchipudi were note worthy and well appreciated in the following films spanning over 12 years (1937 to 1949) as an actor and choreographer:

· Mohini Rugmangada (Telugu1937) (actor in the Balagopala Tarangam)

· Raitu Bidda (Telugu1939) (dancer and choreographer)

· Seeta Rama Jananam (Telugu1942) (choreographer)

· Panthulamma (Telugu1943) (choreographer)

· Garuda Garvabhangam (Telugu1943) (actor and choreographer)

· Swargaseema (Telugu1945) (choreographer)

· Tyagayya (Telugu1946) (choreographer)

· Palnati Yudham (Telugu1947) (choreographer)

· Yogi Vemana (Telugu1947) (choreographer)

· Vande Mataram (Telugu1948) (choreographer)

· Laila Majnu (Telugu1949) (choreographer)

· Raksharekha (Telugu1949) (actor and choreographer)

He received high acclaim for the film ‘Thyagayya’, in which he evoked remarkable performances from young children to depict the famous episode ‘Madhuranagarilo Challalamma bodu Dari vidumu Krishna’ in which Thyagayya dedicates the Anandabhairavi ragam to Kuchipudi artists.

The lure of reel life is too real to ignore for one who excelled in anything he did in life and thus he turned his attention towards directing films and no wonder he created a niche for himself as a film director too. His incorrigible enthusiasm and zeal for work showed very much in his films. The transition from Stage to Silver Screen was smooth and easy for him since he learned the nuances of not only dance and drama from Kuchipudi Yakshagana, but also other finer aspects like literature, composing, characterization, etc.

The list of successful films that he made makes an interesting study as it spanned over a couple of decades and covered a wide spectrum of emotions and weaved stories to remember for eternity. He was a prolific film maker and he made quite a number of movies, even in the era wherein big banners used to take years to make a film. His films were not only a hit with the telugu speaking audience but also was remade in other languages and his fame knew no boundaries in the country.

He continued to weave his charm in filmdom and commercial success apart from critical acclaim was not far off. His film, ‘Devadas’ till today continues to occupy its position as one of the best Telugu pictures ever made and all his films were known for outstanding story line, music, and characterization. He also thoroughly learned the entire film technology such as Camera, Sound, editing, lighting etc.,

The following are the list of films written, produced and / or directed by him from 1951 to 1970:

· Strisahasam (Telugu1951) (producer and director)

· Shanti (Telugu1952) (producer and director)

· Devdas (Telugu and Tamil) (1953) (producer and director)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grloAPTjI88

· Annadata (1954) (director)

· Anarkali (TeluguTelugu1955) (director)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECVLO4jhYug

· Chiranjeevulu (Telugu1956) (director)

· Bhale Ramudu (Telugu, 1956) (director)

· Prema Pasam (Tamil, 1956) (director)

· Suvarna Sundari (Telugu1957) (screenplay writer and director)

· Bhale Ammayilu (Telugu, 1957) (director)

· Iru Sahodarigal (Tamil, 1957) (director)

· Manalane Mangayin Bhagyam (Tamil1957) (director)

· Raja Nandini (Telugu1958) (director)

· Intiguttu (1958) (Telugudirector)

· Bala Nagamma (Telugu1959) (director)

· Jai Bhawana (1959) (director)

· Adutha Veetu Penn (Tamil1960) (director)

· Mamaku Tagga Alludu (Telugu1960) (director)

· Runanubandham (Telugu1960) (director)

· Swarnamanjari (Telugu1962) (director)

· Mangayir Ullam Mangada Selvam (Tamil1962) (director)

· Aadabrathuku (Telugu1965) (director)

· Nanna Kartavya (kannada1965) (director)

· Sati Sakkubai (Telugu&kannada1965) (director)

· Rahasyam (Telugu1967) (director)

· Sati Sumati (Telugu1967) (director)

· Kumkumabharina (Telugu1968) (director)

· Sapta Swaralu (Telugu1969) (director)

· Ulagam Ivvalavuthan (Tamil1969) (director)

· Bhale Ethu Chivaraku Chittu (Telugu1970) (director)

He also paved the way for other Kuchipudi artists like Vempati Peda Satyam, Vepati Chinna Satyam, Pasumarthi Krishnamurthy, Vedantam Jaganatha Sarma & Mahankali Venkaiah to films and they too had their due share of stardom.

Branching to films didn’t diminish his sights on mainstream Kuchipudi art form and he continued his contributions with zeal and vigour. His advent to filmdom signaled the exodus of quite a few Kuchipudi artists to the green pasture – filmdom, a few traditional Kuchipudi artists became old for performance and remaining few etched living as a Dance Guru for rich people. This led to dwindling number of Kuchipudi and Yakshagana performance and a situation wherein there was a general misconception and strong advocacy that Kuchipudi was utmost only a folk dance in nature and the status of classical art form could not be bestowed to it.

Raghavaiah swung into action and organised extensive performances with an entire troupe to prove that Kuchipudi was a truly classical form and he was supported by likeminded illustrious dancers of other art forms too. He became a member in a committee of the First General Council of the Andhra Pradesh Sangeeth Nataka Academy (APSNA) that represented Dance and not Cinema and he was also nominated as President of the National Festival organized by the APSNA in 1964.

Raghavaiah was honoured by the Academy with the prestigious and impressive title of ‘Bharata Kala Prapurna’ – the first such award to a Kuchipudi artist - very rightly for his contributions to Kuchipudi art form right from a very young age starting as a child artist to finally being a dance director and an integral part of the concerted efforts ensured that Kuchipudi got its due share and recognized as one of the Classical Dance - art forms of India.

Some of his disciples in the film industry were Sri C.S.Rao & Sekar. He directed the renowned artists Sri Akkinani Nageswararao, Sri N.T. Ramarao, Sri Kasturi Sivarao, Sri Peketi Sivaram, Sri Relangi Venkataramaiah, Sri Mahankali Venkaiah, Sri S.V. Rangarao, Sri Kantarao, Smt Anjalidevi, Smt Bhanumati, Smt Savitri and many more Tamil ,Telugu and Kannda artists and gave them stardom.

He showed the path for reforming Kuchipudi style of dance (Yakshagana genre of Kuchipudi) in the film ‘Rahasyam’ with the dance ballet ‘Girija Kalyanam’ wherein he performed and choreographed with Vempati Peda Satyam. This was probably one of his last contributions in dance.

Some of his disciples in Kuchipudi dance are Sri Bhagavatula Yagnanarayana Sarma (vijayavada), late Sri Bhagavatula Ramakotaiah (Hyderabad), late Sri Vedantam Parvatisam (Kuchipudi), Sri Pasumarthi Sitaramaiah (Viskhapatnam), Padmabhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam (Chennai).

The level of his accomplishments is breadth taking and leaves one wonder struck for it was achieved in an era which was bereft of the advantage of leading edge technology and only way to become famous, well known, appreciated, revered truly rested on the merits of the individuals. Implicitly, the success story of Vedantam Raghavaiah is quite interesting and tailor made for making a film of the film master and the Dancing Avatar, so to say for the least. His career which spanned through four and half decades was glorious. An eventful and fully packed life of Raghavaiah enhanced the glory of Kuchipudi dance form; but his sudden and untimely death on 18-11-1971, at a relatively young age of 52, was bereavement to Kuchipudi which cannot be compensated.

- - With contributions from Guru Vedantam Ramu, son of Vedantam Raghavaiah, complied by Sudha Sridhar, Founder Director, Panchamvedam Foundation.

BHARATA BHARATI FOUNDATION

Sunday 25 September 2011

VEDANTAM RAMU - PROFILE