Vedantam Ramu

🪔 About

Vedantam Ramachandra Vara Prasad, popularly known as Vedantam Ramu or Ramu Sir, was a renowned Indian classical dancer, exponent, mentor, and choreographer of the Kuchipudi dance form. Born on June 1, 1957, in Kuchipudi village, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, he hailed from a traditional dance family. His father, Vedantam Raghavaiah, was a well-known cine director. Ramu received his initial Kuchipudi training at Siddhendra Kalakshetra. He further pursued his education, acquiring a diploma in Yakshagana and Kuchipudi from the Kuchipudi Centre in Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, and a Natya Visharad from the Kuchipudi Art Academy, under the expert tutelage of Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam. His career at the Kuchipudi Art Academy began in 1974 as a teacher, and he remained associated with the institution since 1973. He also served as a lecturer at the Kuchipudi Art Academy in Chennai and conducted lecturer demonstrations in Hyderabad. Vedantam Ramu was a prolific performer, having presented over 6000 programs both in India and internationally, including tours to the USA, USSR, Singapore, and Malaysia. He was known for his dedicated Nattuvangam (Sutradhari) for Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam and specialized in Yakshaganas like Ushaparinayam, Ramanatakam, and Vipranarayana Charitram. As a choreographer, he assisted Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam in numerous dance-dramas such as Sreenivasa Kalyanam, Krishna Parijatham, and Rukmini Kalyanam. He also re-choreographed works like Bhamakalapam and Srikrishna Parijatam. Ramu was also recognized for his powerful performances in mythological roles like Lord Shiva and Veerabhadra. Beyond performing and choreographing, Vedantam Ramu contributed significantly as a judge for national-level Kuchipudi dance competitions for the Government of India, a member of the Kuchipudi textbook committee for Karnataka State, and an examiner at Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University. He passed away on August 6, 2021, in Hyderabad, at the age of 64. Awards & Honours: Scholarship, Government of India, Kerala, Kuchipudi Classical Dance (1981), Siva Foundation Award (2009), NATYA NIDHI (2010), Kalasagar Award (2010), Vocational Excellence Award (2010), Recognized Guru of SILICON ANDHRA (2010), NATYASRI (2011), Sivaji Virudhu (2012), Natyakala Choodamani, Sri Guru of Kuchipudi Dance (2012), Kuchipudi Natyasarswathi Puraskar (2013).