- News
- I want to bring back Kuchipudi’s dance-drama style to Karnataka: Veena Murthy Vijay
Trending
Anthony Hopkins
Gayatri Oberoi
Sharmila Tagore
Poonam Dhillon
I want to bring back Kuchipudi’s dance-drama style to Karnataka: Veena Murthy Vijay
For Dr Veena Murthy Vijay, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Kuchipudi is both a recognition of the past and a push towards the future. President Droupadi Murmu conferred the award for the year 2024 on her at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on August 13. The honour comes as Murthy Vijay’s Bengaluru-based school, founded in 1976, marks its 50th year.In a conversation with Bangalore Times, the veteran dancer, choreographer and teacher reflects on five decades of her journey in Karnataka, reviving Kuchipudi’s dance-drama tradition, and why dance still matters to young people in an age of Instagram and Netflix.
Dance is not all about a drill or a body exercise. It is about the mind, emotions, and looking into your own self. The journey shapes your personality
Veena Murthy Vijay
‘I want to bring back thedance-drama style’Shedding light on the next chapter, Murthy Vijay says she wishes to take Kuchipudi deeper into Karnataka and revive its original dance-drama format rather than limiting it to the solo repertoire that audiences largely see today. “I want to bring more Kuchipudi into Karnataka. I want to bring back that dance-drama style and the original Yakshagana style here,” she says. She also hopes more students will take up certificate and diploma courses that explore the theatrical aspects of Kuchipudi.At the same time, she believes the art form must leave room for experimentation, especially when it comes to younger dancers. “When you experiment with something, it is like cooking something new. Sometimes you fail, sometimes you are successful. Change is the one constant we must see,” she says.But experimentation, she stresses, should not come at the cost of tradition. “That doesn’t mean that you ignore the traditional pedagogy. Based on these principles, any improvement or enhancement is most welcome.”
I want to bring more Kuchipudi into Karnataka. I want to bring back that dance-drama style and the original Yakshagana style here
Veena Murthy Vijay
‘I want to see youngsters dancing, not just watching Netflix’After watching generations of students take to the arts, Murthy Vijay believes dance can offer children far more than physical training or performance skills. “Dance is not all about a drill or a body exercise. It is about the mind, emotions, and looking into your own self. The journey shapes your personality,” she says. For her, the motivation to remain immersed in dance has never been fame or money. “I feel there is a purpose to my life when I think about dance. That is what has made me and driven me,” she shares.And perhaps that is what the award means most to her — an opportunity to give back to the art that has shaped her life. “I want to see many youngsters dancing. It makes me very, very happy when I see youngsters following their passion instead of watching Instagram and Netflix,” she adds.
Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!
End of Article
Follow Us On Social Media
Photostories
