Question

Who were the performers in the Kuchipudi tradition initially known as?

• A. Devadasis
• B. Bhaktas
• C. Kathakalis
• D. Bhagavathalus

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Bhagavathalus

In the 17th century, the Kuchipudi style of Yakshagana was developed by Siddhendra Yogi, a Vaishnava poet. According to legend, he had a divine vision in which Lord Krishna instructed him to create a dance-drama depicting the story of bringing the Paarijaata flower for Satyabhama, Krishna’s most beloved queen. This led to the composition of Bhaamaakalaapam. Over time, stories from the Bhagavata Purana became the central theme of Kuchipudi, and its performers came to be known as Bhagavathalus. The dance form flourished under the patronage of the Vijayanagar and Golconda rulers. Later, Lakshminarayan Shastry introduced significant innovations, including the incorporation of solo performances and the training of female dancers, ultimately shaping Kuchipudi into a distinct classical solo dance form. Kuchipudi has two main forms: Traditional musical dance-drama Solo dance performance It follows the Carnatic music tradition, with instruments such as the mridangam, veena, and cymbals accompanying the performance.