Dr Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma
With his immense talent as a dancer recognised in Kuchipudi village in his early childhood, Padmasri Dr. Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma has indeed become the most famous male exponent of the female roles in the Kuchipudi tradition.
At the age of 9, he was running to his dance class when he met a yogi in the fields; this sage told him he was to become a most famous dancer — it is believed that this character, who disappeared as fast as he appeared, was none other than a form of Sidhhendra Yogi, the father and mastermind of Kuchipudi Nrtiyam.
With such blessings, it is perhaps no surprise to see Dr. Vedantam Sathyam's immense grace and abhinaya in his famous role as Lord Krishna's consort Satyabhama; his talent shines to the point where it has eluded audiences to the fact that he is a man, even resulting in marriage proposals. His highly awarded and illustrious career as a performer speaks for itself, being handed the Padmashri award from the Government of India at the age of 40.
The subtle emotional shades of his lasya is an inspiration to all, and even into his 60's he retains the fluidity and expression which made him legendary. He is happily settled with his family in Kuchipudi village, where he retains a close connection with the Siddhendra Kalakshetra University, and is currently working to establish an expansive library and resource facility on the subject of Kuchipudi dance.
Sandeep’s Gurus
