Delving into the learning, life and legacy of Yamini Krishnamurti

- Bibin Balan
e-mail: punarjjaniculturalcentre@gmail.com
Photos courtesy Rama Vaidyanathan & Internet

August 3, 2025

Yamini Krishnamurti

The 3rd August marks the first death anniversary of the dancing diva Dr. Yamini Krishnamurti. A revered figure in the world of dance, she is recognised for her contributions to Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. In her memory, the Nritya Kaustubha Cultural Society - the institution founded by Yamini Krishnamurti - is organising a tribute ceremony at the India International Centre, Delhi. During the ceremony, the first Yamini Poornatilaka award will be conferred on her first student and renowned dancer Rama Vaidyanathan. A short revisit to learning, life, and legacy accompanied by her best-ever disciple's memories.

A Bharatnatyam exponent herself, Rama explained how she was influenced by her Guru Yamini Krishnamurti as a performer and a teacher. She says that she has learnt a lot from Yamini Amma. Not only the formal teaching but simply watching her rehearsals, her performances enriched her profusely as a dancer. "When she got up to show me the steps, the way she danced and the way she moved her body enamoured me. The way she had a sense of liberation with her movements has inspired me a lot, and I've built my dance on that element of liberation."

Rama Vaidyanathan and Yamini Krishnamurti

It's quite difficult to define the huge impact that Yamini Krishnamurti has had on the Indian classical dance scene. But we can experience the void that her absence has left. Rama recalls how Yamini Amma danced for the sake of dancing without bothering about the politics of it. While dancing, she owned the stage and looked like 'The Queen of the Stage'. She completely surrendered to the space around her. That's what gave her dance a mystical and charismatic quality. With her passing, dance connoisseurs will miss that 'charismatic charm', which is peculiar to an artiste of a calibre like hers.

Yamini Amma's personal life is unknown to most people. In fact, she led a warp and weft life between dance and joyfulness. She dedicated her whole life to dance, so much so that she was oblivious to the world around. The simple and innocent soul that she was, the smallest of things would bring her the greatest of joy. "Even when I gave a bottle of almond oil to her for a massage, she would be so happy and so grateful," Rama reminisces.

Rama Vaidyanathan and Yamini Krishnamurti

Being her disciple for so many years, Rama has absorbed the elegance and certain qualities of Yamini Krishnamurti. She states, "I think that the quality is about feeling liberated with your movements, surrendering to the space around you. I intend to build on that and carry her memory and legacy forward through my dance and my students' dance." "I will make an effort to run her school at her manager's request recently and I believe it is my duty," she added.

The memorial tribute begins with a film on Dr. Yamini Krishnamurti which will be followed by tributes from dignitaries. The evening will host performances by the students of Nritya Kaustubha who will perform pieces from the school repertoire. This will be followed by a performance by Rama Vaidyanathan herself. She will be performing the Viriboni varnam choreographed and popularized by Yamini Krishnamurti and will conclude with a self- choreographed piece showcasing elements and movement patterns from her Guru's dancing. Indeed, a befitting tribute to the legend!

Bibin Balan, Managing Editor of Punarjjani Bharat, is working on cultural advancement based on digital media platforms. His area of focus is on promotion of performing arts and digital contents under this category. He is a Yoga Educator based in New Delhi since 2008.

Response
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Yamini Krishnamurti was the most electrifying dancer I have ever seen, simply unforgettable. Rama Vaidyansthan's determination to keep her dance school alive is laudable. The event on her 1st death anniversary was a great tribute, Dr Karan Singh recalled the greatness of the incomparable dancer.
- Shailaja Khanna (Aug 5, 2025)

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