Noted dancer Padma Vibhushan Yamini Krishnamurthy was visibly touched by the love and affection of dance connoisseurs at the ‘National Eminence Award Function’ and inaugural of the Seven-day festival of music, dance and drama, being organised by the Visakha Music and Dance Academy (VMDA) at Kalabharathi here on Saturday. President of the Madras Music Academy and Co-Chairman of Kasturi and Sons Limited (KSL) N. Murali, who participated as chief guest, presented her with the ‘Swarna Kamalam’ (golden lotus) and the title ‘Natya Vidya Bharathi’ of the VMDA. International president of the World Teacher Trust K. Parvathi Kumar honoured her with a shawl and citation.
Responding to the felicitations, Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthy said: “Your love has given me renewed strength and vigour and I would love to enthral you all over again with my dance performances in future.”
Earlier in his address, Mr. Murali said Dr. Yamini’s dance was characterised by ‘a spirit of vibrancy as never seen before’. She believed that a synergy between the musician and the dancer was important and her sister was her musician most of the time and her scholarly father would introduce her pieces laced with Sanskrit verses. She incorporated all that and created a special dimension. Mr. Murali said Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthy had learnt Kuchipudi and popularised it in Delhi, after she shifted there.
