On being selected for this year’s Central Sangeet Natak Academy, Natyacharya Vedantham Ramalinga Sastri, a reputed Kuchipudi dancer and choreographer and principal of Sidhendra Yogi Kuchipudi Kala Peetham in Kuchipudi said that prestigious recognition came to him because of the blessings of the great gurus in the field of Kuchipudi. It is his great fortune that he learnt this art in his native Kuchipudi and was heading the Kalapeetham at the same place, he added.
He was felicitated recently and the felicitation function was organised by Vijayawada Cultural Academy headed by Seeram Subramanyam, at G.V.R.Government College of Music and Dance. The colourful function was chaired by Turlapati Kutumba Rao, veteran journalist and chairman of Andhra Pradesh Grandhalaya Parishat. Chief guest N.Ramesh Kumar, additional joint collector praised the efforts of the cultural bodies in the city for encouraging and preserving the rich cultural heritage inherited by the Telugu people. Other guests who congratulated Ramalinga Sastri were Manepalli Lakshmi Kumari, G.Venkataramana, Vemula Hazarattaiah Gupta, member of T.T.D.Dharmika Mandali, Putta Bhaskara Rao, Sarada Ramakrishna, well known exponent of Andhra Natyam and S.V.Hanumanta Rao, programme head in Vijayawada Akashvani.
Several Kuchipudi items like Vinayaka Kautam’ , Jayamu Jayamu’ , the tarangam Neela Megha Sareera’ and Hindola tillana were performed by dancers Amani, Mounika, Bhagyasri and Anusha.
