From Green Room to Spotlight: How Yamini Reddy's Kuchipudi Journey Breaks Boundaries And Keeps Tradition Alive

Yamini Reddy was just 3 when her journey in Kuchipudi began. She was already part of the tours, all thanks to her parents.Born to Kuchipudi exponents Dr Raja Reddy and Radha Reddy, her journey started at a very young age. Her parents constantly rehearsed, toured, and practised, and they were completely involved in this art form. So for her, it came naturally and she grew up with it. "I remember being very passionate and crazy about this art form," she says.

First Steps Towards KuchipudiWhile being on tours with her parents, she was also dressed and was asked to wait in the green room as she will be called any moment on the stage. "They would just pacify me and say, 'Oh, we are going to call you on stage soon, don't worry, just sit here.' So after two-three times doing that, I got really upset and then I walked onto stage while my dad was dancing. I kept demanding that I perform. The audience was so amused that they allowed me to perform and that was kind of my first, I think, stageappearance," she shares. This is what she calls her the first-ever inspiration to take up this art form. After she finished her master's she was definite to pursue this art. Her move to Hyderabad, she says, made her more independent as a person and as an artist. This is what shaped her and gave her a chance to get back to her roots.Also Read: Making The Classics Relevant

She is also performing her piece 'Anantarupah - The Infinite' today, at Kamani Auditorium. "Anantarupa is a thematic presentation focused on Lord Vishnu, a unique take since most associate the origins of dance with Lord Shiva. But there are texts that highlight Vishnu's connection to dance, which inspired me to create this collection," she explains. Reddy has chosen pieces from the Kuchipudi repertoire, including the Narasimha Avataram, a heritage piece showcasing Vishnu's half-man, half-lion form, drawn from the ancient Yakshagana tradition and revived for her performance. She will also be presenting a piece on Lord Rama, blending classical Telugu and Sanskrit elements with Hindi songs, which makes it both traditional and relatable for modern audiences. "This approach is part of my mission to bring Kuchipudi to younger, more discerning viewers," she says. Reddy has always spoken about making classical art forms more relevant for the audience while keeping it intact. In all her performances she has always tried to bring a freshness which is very unique to her. The best part? She does this without disturbing the grammar of the dance form itself, mostly by tweaking the presentation formats.We asked Reddy of the challenges she faces when she blends Telugu and Sanskrit verses with elements of Yakshaganam and Hindustani music. To which she said that the reason lies in how she was brought up. She is born and brought up in Delhi, which exposed her to Hindustani music and the Hindi language. The composition was choreographed by her father and Reddy herself, so this Delhi influence is what made them question: 'Why not introduce dialogues in Hindi?'"So these two pieces, the Yakshaganam piece, I'm doing traditional as it is in Telugu and Sanskrit verses. The second piece, the Ramayana, I am doing with Hindustani music, Hindi dialogues, and Kuchipudi dance," she says. Art Must Welcome InnovationIt was challenging, as she had to incorporate the rhythmic feature into the musical pattern of the Hindustani and Hindi language with the rhythmic structure of the Carnatic music. "There were challenges and it took a while. But it has come out very beautifully. And the reward I would say is that whenever we perform it, people who know Hindi and who understand it and who love it, they definitely enjoy it a great deal. And that helps us create and take our art form and for us to present it to a Hindi audience and for them to understand it better and enjoy it and see the beauty of our Kuchipudi dance," she shares.In a world that increasingly values innovation, we need to also keep the classical art forms intact, she believes. Talking about innovation in dance forms, she talks about how Kuchipudi has also evolved over time. "Back in those days, you would have seen Kuchipudi being performed in open stages with no lights and with one mic. There were no proper auditoriums. But now we have moved on to the modern stage. We must change our presentation formats to suit these modern stages. And there are going to be new things happening all the time. And I welcome these innovations and I think they should happen for this art form to survive," she explains. However, she also believes that when it comes to archiving, art forms should be preserved in its traditional format. The Elements Of Yamini's Compositions

In selecting elements for each performance, she focuses on staying true to the theme while making it accessible to the audience. For Anantarupa, centred on Lord Vishnu’s various avatars, she chose pieces that highlight Vishnu’s many forms while considering the audience’s cultural context. "Elements such as language, timing, and the emotional intensity of each piece guide my selection process, ensuring the performance is both cohesive and impactful," she says. Bringing out the contrasting energies of Vishnu’s avatars, Narasimha and Rama, adds depth to the performance."Narasimha, fierce and half-lion, represents raw aggression and divine rage, capturing the intense moment he defeats the demon Hiranyakashipu. In contrast, the Rama piece, performed to Bhajaman Ramcharana Sukhadai, reflects calm and devotion, emphasizing Rama’s balanced nature. This interplay of intense power with serene devotion offers audiences a unique view into Vishnu’s dual aspects," she explains. Yamini Reddy will perform 'Anantarupa - The Infinite', today at Kamani Auditorium, 1, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi, 8pm onwards.