C.R. Acharyulu

🪔 About

Chilakammarri Ramacharyulu, popularly known as C.R. Acharya, was a distinguished figure in Indian classical dance, particularly Kuchipudi. Born in 1919 in Nuziveedu, Krishna district, he was exposed to touring Kuchipudi artistes from a young age. He received his dance training from the renowned guru Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastry, who is credited with revolutionizing Kuchipudi and introducing the solo performing system. Acharyulu dedicated his life to the propagation and evolution of Kuchipudi, developing a characteristically unique style that incorporated old-time jathis and muktayis. He was known for composing numerous solo performances and dance dramas, significantly widening the scope and genre of Kuchipudi. His innovations included the introduction of Chitra Nrittya, a unique dance form where dancers draw images like lions, peacocks, and lotuses with their feet to rare talas such as Simhanandana tala and Mallikamoda tala. Acharyulu also undertook extensive research, collecting rare 'javalis', 'padams', and 'varnams' from Devadasis in villages around Eluru, West Godavari district, and adapting their choreography into his performances. He served as a faculty member at the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad, where he conducted pioneering research in Alaaya Sampradayas. His distinctive style influenced prominent dancers like Mallika Sarabhai and Smt. Vyjayanthi Kashi. Among his notable students were Uma Rama Rao and his daughter, Voleti Rangamani, who continues to preserve and propagate his work. He was affectionately known as 'Kuchipudi Tatayya' by his students. Acharyulu also contributed to dance scholarship, authoring the Telugu article "Andhra Natya Ounathyam," which discusses the dance drama and solo traditions of Kuchipudi.