Udupi Laxminarayana

🪔 About

Guru Udupi Laxminarayana, a revered figure in Indian classical dance, was born on September 17, 1926, into a family of orthodox Sanskrit scholars. Following family tradition, he initially studied the Vedas and Sanskrit before enrolling in the Bharatiya Nritya Kala Kendra at Dharwar to learn Carnatic music, where he unexpectedly began his dance training under Srinivas Kulkarni. His pursuit of classical dance led him to Chennai in 1949, where he underwent a rigorous seven-year gurukulavasam under the tutelage of Kanchipuram Ellappa Mudaliar, a perfectionist who meticulously imparted the Bharatanatyam art form. Laxminarayana excelled, passing the Government Higher Grade examination in dance with a first class in 1963. His career as a performer included being a member of Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury's dance group. Recognizing the limited opportunities for male dancers, he founded his own dance company, "Bharata Natya Manjari," later known as "Natya Manjari," in Chennai in 1962. He was a leading Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer, known for his innovative dance dramas such as 'Dharmamoorthi,' 'Shilpiyin Kanavu,' and 'Mayura Vijayam'. To sustain his troupe, he also worked as a dance composer at Gemini Studios, choreographing for numerous Kannada films and even acting in a Hindi film. He traveled extensively, performing and teaching in countries including the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, and Australia. Udupi Laxminarayana was a dedicated guru, training many students, including the renowned film personality Prabhu Deva and his brothers. His daughter, Madhumathy Prakash, and granddaughter, Mamtha Rao, continue to uphold and propagate his unique Kanchipuram style of Bharatanatyam through Natya Manjari. He annually organized 'Guru Charana Smaranam' to honor his own guru. Guru Udupi Laxminarayana passed away in Chennai on March 17, 2015. Awards & Honours: Bharatanatya Chakravarthy (1985), Karnataka Kalashree (2002), Acharya Choodamani (2002), Kalaimamani (2003), Natya Kalanidhi, Nartaka Award (2010).