P.V.G. Krishna Sarma

🪔 About

Pasumarthy Venu Gopala Krishna Sarma, often referred to as P.V.G. Krishna Sarma, was a legendary figure in Indian classical dance, particularly renowned for his contributions to Kuchipudi. Born in 1929 in Kuchipudi village, Krishna district, he received his training in dance-drama from esteemed gurus Chinta Venkataramayya and Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastri, while also studying music. He was celebrated as a prominent theatre personality and a skilled female impersonator, adept at playing both male and female roles in performances. Sarma dedicated many years as an actor-dancer with the Venkatarama Natya Mandali and Shri Siddhendra Kalakshetram, where he later served as principal. He was instrumental in the establishment of Siddhendra Kalakshetra, a significant Kuchipudi dance school in Mavva Mandal, Krishna, and was its inaugural principal. Throughout his career, he trained a vast number of students, ensuring the continuity of the Kuchipudi tradition. Even after his retirement, he continued to mentor artists in his native Kuchipudi village. His performances graced stages in the presence of notable personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vinobha Bhave, and Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy. Sarma also contributed to documentaries like 'Prahlada' and 'Bhama Kalapam' in 1972 for the Central Films Division and a short film 'Yamini' for the Delhi Centre. He passed away at the age of 86 on June 3, 2012. Awards & Honours: Sangeeta Nataka Academy Award, Kalaratna award (2012).