Legendary Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer Yamini Krishnamurti passes away at 84

New Delhi: Yamini Krishnamurti, a distinguished figure in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dance, has passed away at the Apollo Hospital in Delhi. She was 84 years old. The dancer had been grappling with age-related health issues and had been in the ICU for the past seven months, according to her manager and secretary, Ganesh.

Krishnamurti's body will be transported to her institute, the Yamini School of Dance in Hauz Khas, at 9 am on Sunday. The arrangements for her final rites are still being finalised. She is survived by two sisters.

Born on December 20, 1940, in Madanapalli, Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Yamini Krishnamurti was the daughter of Sanskrit scholar M. Krishnamurti. She began her journey in dance at the young age of five at Chennai's Kalakshetra School of Dance, under the guidance of the legendary Bharatanatyam dancer Rukmini Devi Arundale.

In addition to Bharatanatyam, Krishnamurti was well-versed in Kuchipudi and expanded her expertise to include Odissi, studying under renowned artists like Pankaj Charan Das and Kelucharan Mohapatra. She was also trained in Carnatic music and the veena.

Her illustrious career earned her several prestigious awards. At just 28, she received the Padma Shri in 1968, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. She was also honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1977.

Veteran dancer Rama Vaidyanathan, one of Krishnamurti's first students, praised her impact on Bharatanatyam. Vaidyanathan described Krishnamurti as someone who brought "power, beauty, and glamour" to the dance form. She noted, "Bharatanatyam will not be the same without her. She was intensely focused and dedicated to classical dance. I consider myself fortunate to have been her student nearly 40 years ago."

Vaidyanathan recalled a memorable train journey with Krishnamurti, where she was seen composing a dance piece in the dark while everyone else slept. "I remember once we were travelling by train. I was in the upper berth, and she was in the lower. In the middle of the night, while everyone else was asleep, I saw her in the darkness, working on a dance composition. Her dedication to Bharatanatyam was unwavering," Vaidyanathan shared.

Tributes have been pouring in from across the country. Former Rajya Sabha MP and Bharatanatyam dancer Sonal Mansingh paid her respects, describing Krishnamurti as a meteor blazing across the sky of Indian dance. "She was a senior to me, and we all looked up to her," Mansingh said on X.

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed his sorrow, stating, "I’m deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Yamini Krishnamurthy garu, the celebrated exponent of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam. My thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time."

Kuchipudi veterans Raja and Radha Reddy called her passing a "colossal loss" to the dance world, stating, "The Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi prima donna Yamini Krishnamurthy has attained moksha at the feet of Nataraja, the lord of dance. A profound loss to the dance world. Rest in peace, dear friend."

Jayalakshmi Eshwar, another Bharatanatyam exponent, highlighted Krishnamurti’s global impact on the dance form. Eshwar fondly recalled her interactions with Krishnamurti and how she contributed to her confidence as a young dancer. "She made Bharatanatyam known globally, especially in the north. She was a fantastic dancer with beautiful expressions. It’s very sad to lose such a beloved figure," Eshwar said.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi also extended its condolences, noting Krishnamurti’s significant contributions to Bharatanatyam. "Sangeet Natak Akademi and its associate bodies deeply mourn the sad demise of Yamini Krishnamurti, a leading Bharatanatyam exponent, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellow, and Padma Vibhushan Awardee. Our heartfelt condolences to her family and prayers for strength during this irreparable loss," the Akademi said in a statement.

Yamini Krishnamurti’s passing marks the end of an era in classical dance, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, excellence, and profound influence on the Indian dance landscape. PTI