Pasumarthy Kesava Prasad

🪔 About

Pasumarthy Kesava Prasad (1952-2021) was a revered Indian classical dance figure, a veteran Kuchipudi exponent, performer, mentor, promoter, and organizer. Born on August 1, 1952, into a traditional family of Kuchipudi and Yakshagana artistes, his father, Pasumarthy Subramanya Sastri, was a renowned Yakshagana exponent. He was a Sanskrit graduate from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. Kesava Prasad received his Kuchipudi training from acclaimed gurus including Vedantam Parvateesam, Vempati Chinna Satyam, and P.G.V. Krishna Sastry (also known as PVG Krishna Sarma). His career began with a stint as a part-time dance assistant at Sri Siddhendra Kalakshetram from 1978 to 1983. Subsequently, he became an independent mentor and master performer, credited with over 1800 performances. Kesava Prasad was instrumental in promoting solo Kuchipudi performances during the 1980s and 1990s, a period when Yakshagana was more popular. He played a unique role in fostering a strong bond between the classical dance fraternity and Kuchipudi village, inviting dancers to the village to celebrate its cultural heritage. He was the founder secretary and president of the Akhila Bharata Kuchipudi Natya Kala Mandali (ABKNKM), which he established in 1983 and led from its formative years. His choreographic works include "Parvati Kalyanam," "Bhama Kalapam," "Parijatapaharanam," and "Srinivasa Kalyanam". He also served as the trustee of the Ramalingeshwara Swami Temple. In 2015, he took charge as President of the Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai, an institution founded by his guru Vempati Chinna Satyam. Kesava Prasad was pivotal in reviving the Guru-Sishya Parampara method of teaching by collaborating with Krishna University to offer Kuchipudi courses from the academic year 2015-16. He passed away on May 7, 2021, at the age of 69, in his hometown of Kuchipudi village, Andhra Pradesh.