Yamini Krishnamurthy – The Incomparable Diva of Indian Dance

As the sunsets spreading its molten glows across the expanse of the sky, the one and only one-star dual dancer who could negotiate both styles of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam to its most optimal level and many a time going to the most unbelievable and unmatched levels is and will always be The Yamini Krishnamurthy (1940-2024).

Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi veteran Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthy died at the Apollo hospital in the Capital recently. She was 84, after her death her body was brought to her dance school ‘Yamini School of Dance’ at Hauz Khas for all dance lovers and her admirers to pay their last respects to the departed soul. “She was suffering from age-related issues and was in the ICU for the last seven months,” Yamini Krishnamurthy’s manager and secretary Ganesh.

The incomparable Diva of Indian Dance who would not in her peak days turn back or walk towards the then Prime Minister who was a great fan of hers and yet when the then Prime Minister called out to her she stopped and stood and waited for the Prime Minister to come forward and join her, that was Yamini Krishnamurthy, she had performed at the premiere of film ‘Sangam’ at Moscow and the beautiful black and white photo at her home wearing a white sari in honor of Raj Saab with Yamini ji and Vyjayantimala ji flaking him on either side still remains on her highly decorated wall of fame. Her dance is immortal every item she performed especially Bhama Kalapam and Krishna Sabdam in Kuchipudi and the speed of her trikala Jathis sent even the great Kadivelu Master Nattuvanar in to a tizzy!

Born on December 20, 1940 in Madanapalli in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district to Sanskrit scholar M Krishnamurti, she took to dance at the tender age of five at the Kalakshetra School of Dance in Chennai under the tutelage of legendary Bharatanatyam dancer Rukmini Devi Arundale. She always credited her growing up in Tamil Nadu, and the local cultural environment, including the Thillai Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram as inspirations for her art.

Krishnamurthy started her dance career with a Bharatanatyam performance in Madras in 1957. Some of her Gurus during this period included Kanchipuram Ellappa Pillai, Kittappa Pillai, Dhandayuthapani Pillai, and Mylapore Gowri Ammal. Though she started out with Bharatnatyam, Krishnamurthy expanded her skills to include Kuchipudi and Odissi dance forms.

She is noted to have popularised these dance forms in North India in the 1960s when she relocated to Delhi. After one of her performances in the national capital, the visiting Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau is noted to have gone to the stage, held her hands and remarked, “Keep dancing, don’t stop, just keep dancing”. In addition to the country, her performances took her to other countries including The United States of America, the United Kingdom, the then USSR, Thailand, Germany, Spain and many more, she even had admirers in Pakistan who often called her to perform in their country at various events and festival.

In recognition of her contributions, she was appointed as the Asthana Nartaki (Resident dancer) of the world famous Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, the only dancer to have had this divine honour and blessing. She even expanded her horizon by learning Odissi from the likes of Pankaj Charan Das and Kelucharan Mohapatra.

Besides learning the various dance forms, Yamini Krishnamurthy was trained in Carnatic vocals and the veena. She received Padma Shri at the young age of 28 in 1968, Padma Bhushan in 2001 and Padma Vibhushan in 2016. She was also conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1977.

Speaking about her contribution to Bharatanatyam, her very first student, who today is a veteran dancer, Rama Vaidyanathan, said “I am blessed to be her first student, she taught me with such generosity, never withholding anything for herself, she gave me all that she had. We have lost a legend and there won’t be another Yamini in the world of Indian Dance.’
Legendary Artist Dr. Sonal Mansingh said. “Yamini blazed like a meteor on the dance scene for almost four decades. She will be remembered as a dancer who moulded Kuchipudi in her own sensuous way. Her majestic presence on stage was absolutely amazing, May her soul reach the realms of light and may she bless the entire dance community from heaven above.”

Art scholar and curator Usha RK said, “So many memories I have, so many stories shared by Guru CR Acharyulu, Vempati Sir, SN Chandrashekhar the well know dance critic who related moments of her training under Guru Elappa Pillai! For many programs I had the honor of compering for her in both styles. She was so humorous and often spinned off in to typical telugu quotes and language that sent us in to peals of laughter! Her wit was to die for! An extremely warm person she shared many wonderful stories with me. One moment that I cherish was when I made some upma for her with no dice at her green park residence.” She further added, “The Nataraja Samman conferred to her by our trust Sstak Trust sadguru Thyagabrahma Aradhana Kainkarya trust and The Tamarind Tree was indeed a huge honor for me. She will always remain in my life and my heart pray that Lord Venkateshwara grants her moksha and divine peace.”

Iconic Bharatnatyam guru Mallika Sarabhai said, “She was an icon, a real diva of dance, a path breaker and a path maker, she was the one who put solo women’s Kuchipudi on the world map, may her soul rest in eternal peace.”
Not just dancers and dance lovers who are saddened by her demise, even Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said, “Pained by the passing away of Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthy. Her excellence and dedication to Indian classical dance have inspired generations and left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape. She has worked greatly to enrich our heritage. Condolences to her family and admirers. Om Shanti.”

Sandip Soparrkar holds a doctorate in world mythology folklore from Pacific University USA, an honorary doctorate in performing arts from the National American University, He is a World Book Record holder,
a well-known Ballroom dancer and a Bollywood choreographer who has been honored with three
National Excellence awards, one National Achievement Award and Dada Saheb Phalke award
by the Government of India. He can be contacted on [email protected]