Promoting and preserving Kuchipudi with passion
Vijayawada: In the heart of Vijayawada, where tradition and modernity blend seamlessly, the Gonugunta family stands out as a beacon of classical excellence. Gonugunta Saila Sree and her daughters, Satyanandini and Ramya Sahithi, are not just preserving the art of Kuchipudi, but passionately promoting it through performance, pedagogy, and innovation. 'The Hans India' interacted with this family.
Gonugunta Saila Sree, the guiding force of the family, born in 1975 to K Nageswara Rao and Varalakshmi Sujatha. She devoted her life to Kuchipudi. Trained under legendary gurus like Lanka Annapurna, Dhanalakshmi, Josyula Sitarama Sastry, and Vedantam Radheshyam, she embodies tradition and excellence. She was a double diploma holder in dance. Saila Sree is widely respected as a performer, choreographer, and guru.
In 1998, she founded Sri Nrutya Kala Nilayam, a Kuchipudi dance academy that has since become a cradle for nurturing young talent. Under her guidance, the institution has trained scores of students, many of whom have received HRD and CCRT scholarships, and have excelled in national-level competitions. Her dance troupe has performed across India, from Assam to Kerala, Mumbai to Odisha, and in temples and cultural festivals throughout the country. Her choreographed productions, such as 'Goda Kalyanam' and 'Girija Kalyanam', have earned her accolades like Nrutya Ratna, Natya Kala Tapaswi, and Natya Priya. Her students regularly grace esteemed stages, including the Prapancha Telugu Mahasabhalu, Assam Cultural Federation (Silchar), Bharata Muni Dance Festivals, and Margazhi Festivals of Tamil Nadu.
Gonugunta Satyanandini, the scholar-performer, following in her mother's footsteps with her own distinct voice was born in 1999. A natural dancer from childhood, her journey began under her mother's watchful eye and later continued with advanced training under Vedantam Radhesyam and Vempati Ravi Shankar. Despite holding a degree in Mechanical Engineering and working in the corporate sector, her commitment to Kuchipudi remains unwavering.
Satyanandini holds a diploma in Yakshaganam from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University and is currently preparing to pursue a PhD in dance. With over two decades of performance experience, she dazzled audiences at prominent venues such as the Mumbai Telugu Mahasabha, CCRT (New Delhi), and the Bharatamuni Dance Festival. As a choreographer, she crafted compelling ballets like 'Nauka Charitam' and 'Stree'. Her artistry has been recognised through titles like Nritya Koumudi, Nritya Priya, and Natya Virinchi, along with a gold medal from prestigious competitions in Hyderabad. She has also been honoured by Drushya Vedika for her contributions to the arts. Beyond dance, Satyanandini harbours a deep interest in theatre, having acted in plays such as 'Kanakapushya Ragam' and 'Danta Vedantam', reflecting her versatile artistic spirit.
Gonugunta Ramya Sahithi, the emerging torchbearer, the youngest in the family, born in 2001, is an accomplished performer and a promising scholar. She is currently pursuing her Master of Performing Arts (MPA) at the Central University of Hyderabad. Beginning her training under her mother and later continuing with Guru Vedantam Radheshyam, Ramya's dedication was recognised early with the CCRT Scholarship in 2016.
A graded artiste of Doordarshan Hyderabad, Ramya has already performed in over 700 solo and group shows across the country. Her consistent presence in national festivals and her mature stage presence mark her as one of the rising stars in the classical dance circuit.
As the conversation with this extraordinary family came to a close, their shared dream became clear: to establish a new dance institution rooted in systematic, high-quality training, blending tradition with contemporary pedagogy. Both Satyanandini and Ramya Sahithi expressed a strong desire to promote not only dance but also theatre, continuing their family's artistic legacy while paving new paths for future generations.
The Gonugunta family's journey is a testament to what passion, discipline, and generational dedication can achieve. In a world that's constantly changing, their art stands timeless.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
outrage over death of 31 cows in Vemulawada Goshala
Sircilla: Sri Rajarajeshwara Swamy at Vemulawada, famous as Dakshin Kashi, is known for offering cow (Kodelu) offerings to the Lord like nowhere else in the country. If the wishes made are fulfilled, devotees offer cows and bulls to the Lord. The cows and bulls that arrive in this way are being cared for in Rajanna Goshala. The Rajanna temple earns an annual income of Rs 90 crores, while the annual income from goshala alone is around Rs 22 crore. It is understandable how the devotees feel about this place. However, a few months ago, on the recommendation of a minister, a man from Warangal handed over 60 cows and bulls. The distribution of cows was stopped after the sale of the cows by that person became controversial. This made it difficult to take care of the cows and bulls, and due to improper management, 31 heifers died in a week. Another heifer died on Friday, May 30. After that, started the dance of death. 9 cows died in one day, 5 another day, 4 yet another day, 3 others subsequently, 6 next day, 2 another day and 2 next day. While cowsheds were built to house 450 kodelu, the kodelu donated by donors exceeded the capacity, and about 1,200 kodelu were kept in the cowshed. A few outsourced staff is working to take care of them. The shortage of staff in the cowshed and the lack of adequate food for them are also reasons for the current situation. The kodelu are kept outside, drying out in the sun and getting wet in the rain. The temple authorities, whose income comes from the cowshed, are not paying attention to the cows, and devotees are expressing deep anger. District Animal Husbandry department officer Ravinder Reddy told The Hans India that the sick kodelu in the Tippapur cowshed are responding to the treatment provided by veterinary doctors, and some of the cattle have become active. They are being given fluids from time to time along with vitamin tablets and green grass, and they have also been vaccinated. Out of the 1,300 cattle in the cowshed, a total of 12 cattle are currently suffering from illness, and veterinary doctors are treating them, the cows are responding to the treatment, some are actively roaming, and none have fallen ill recently. Vemulawada MLA and government Whip Adi Srinivas said that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy sent state-level officials to look into the issue. Animal Husbandry department officials, district Collector, temple EO, staff and officials of all departments are constantly monitoring the cows. Seasonal diseases with the arrival of the rainy season, Animal Husbandry officials said that some of the cows have developed lumpy skin disease, and 16 medical staff is monitoring the cows. He said that about 18 to 20 cows have already recovered from severe illness and are healthy. Officials say that there will be some trouble as devotees offer small cows and those that do not melt milk in the process of paying cow sacrifices. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has decided to construct a spacious, state-of-the-art cowshed in Vemulawada on the lines of the cowsheds being constructed in Moinabad by the government in Rangareddy district in the coming days, the MLA said. The temple EO said that some cows had lumpy skin and were vaccinated and that the cows would be distributed to those eligible through Geo-tagging. The government has given permission to build a large cowshed in the next few days, and steps will be taken to ensure that the new cows offered by devotees are kept in a cage and later mixed with the rest. Rajanna Sircilla Collector Sandeep Kumar Jha, visited the Tippapur cowshed of the Vemulawada Sri Rajarajeshwara Swamy Temple. He said that the cowshed should be drained to prevent rainwater from stagnating and that the cows with the lump should be kept separate from the others. The veterinary officer explained that the cowshed has a capacity of 450 kodelu and currently there are 1,200 cattle. He said that the cows are dying due to the accumulation of rainwater, the lack of adequate supply of green grass for the cows for weeks and the devotees bringing and giving away sick and malnourished kodelu under one year old. In order to get the heifers from the Tippapur cowshed of the Vemulawada Sri Rajeswara Swamy temple, farmers should register online on the district website Collector Sandeep Kumar Jha said. He clarified that only eligible farmers will be distributed geo-tagged kodelu. Eligible farmers should contact with relevant documents like Pattadar passbook, Aadhar card etc. Geo tagging and registration of farmers' details on the website may prevent the possibility of cows going astray. Vishva Hindu Parishad Goraksha State committee member Ootkuri Radhakrishna expressed grief over the death of kodelu. Meanwhile, when the last reports arrived on Friday, out of the 17 cows suffering from illness in the cowshed, five were in critical condition, according to veterinary officials. They are being treated better. They said they were providing medicine.
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Thirumalini Dasari brings glory to Telugu community in US
Visakhapatnam: What happens when one is naturally inclined towards science and creativity in equal parts? 'It works like magic,' opines Thirumalini Dasari after getting crowned as 'Mrs. Telugu USA' in Dallas, Texas. She emphasises that it's the rare combo that made her stand out in the pageant hosted by the OMG Organisation in the USA. A rheumatologist and obesity medicine physician by profession and native of Visakhapatnam, Thirumalini Dasari emerged with the title in the grand finale as 'cultural queen carrying the crown of heritage' wherein 41 finalists vied with one another for the title. Currently, she is residing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. After completing her MBBS in Andhra Medical College in Visakhapatnam, Thirumalini Dasari did MD in Rheumatology and obesity medicine. 'From the City of Destiny to City of Dreams, I came to New York to do my residency. Back then, I had gone through my share of struggles before becoming a successful doctor in the US. But all through my professional journey, I have equally been focused on becoming a well-groomed intellectual without any compromise on fitness,' she shares with The Hans India when contacted. Defining beauty pageant as one of the effective platforms to raise the voice of contestants, Thirumalini Dasari finds that the avenue is also a great stage to script a new story altogether. 'Apparently, nothing happens by chance. It's all part of destiny's preordaineddesign. My upbringing gave me a structure to focus on, while my culture shaped my values. My creative traits empowered me, advocacy fuelled my purpose in life and medicine served as a bridge that connected all of them,' she explains. Apart from alleviating pain through her treatment, the doctor says that her ability to empathise with patients pushed her to gain a professional edge. She says that she derives strength from her mother Dasari Lakshmi Kumari, draws inspiration from her late father Dasari Appala Raju. 'Encouraging me to break stereotypes, my husband Gadi Venkata Satish supports me in my endeavours,' she adds, recommending women to embrace positivity and ignore negativity in order to not just lead a fuller life but also enhance their overall wellbeing.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Promoting and preserving Kuchipudi with passion
Vijayawada: In the heart of Vijayawada, where tradition and modernity blend seamlessly, the Gonugunta family stands out as a beacon of classical excellence. Gonugunta Saila Sree and her daughters, Satyanandini and Ramya Sahithi, are not just preserving the art of Kuchipudi, but passionately promoting it through performance, pedagogy, and innovation. 'The Hans India' interacted with this family. Gonugunta Saila Sree, the guiding force of the family, born in 1975 to K Nageswara Rao and Varalakshmi Sujatha. She devoted her life to Kuchipudi. Trained under legendary gurus like Lanka Annapurna, Dhanalakshmi, Josyula Sitarama Sastry, and Vedantam Radheshyam, she embodies tradition and excellence. She was a double diploma holder in dance. Saila Sree is widely respected as a performer, choreographer, and guru. In 1998, she founded Sri Nrutya Kala Nilayam, a Kuchipudi dance academy that has since become a cradle for nurturing young talent. Under her guidance, the institution has trained scores of students, many of whom have received HRD and CCRT scholarships, and have excelled in national-level competitions. Her dance troupe has performed across India, from Assam to Kerala, Mumbai to Odisha, and in temples and cultural festivals throughout the country. Her choreographed productions, such as 'Goda Kalyanam' and 'Girija Kalyanam', have earned her accolades like Nrutya Ratna, Natya Kala Tapaswi, and Natya Priya. Her students regularly grace esteemed stages, including the Prapancha Telugu Mahasabhalu, Assam Cultural Federation (Silchar), Bharata Muni Dance Festivals, and Margazhi Festivals of Tamil Nadu. Gonugunta Satyanandini, the scholar-performer, following in her mother's footsteps with her own distinct voice was born in 1999. A natural dancer from childhood, her journey began under her mother's watchful eye and later continued with advanced training under Vedantam Radhesyam and Vempati Ravi Shankar. Despite holding a degree in Mechanical Engineering and working in the corporate sector, her commitment to Kuchipudi remains unwavering. Satyanandini holds a diploma in Yakshaganam from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University and is currently preparing to pursue a PhD in dance. With over two decades of performance experience, she dazzled audiences at prominent venues such as the Mumbai Telugu Mahasabha, CCRT (New Delhi), and the Bharatamuni Dance Festival. As a choreographer, she crafted compelling ballets like 'Nauka Charitam' and 'Stree'. Her artistry has been recognised through titles like Nritya Koumudi, Nritya Priya, and Natya Virinchi, along with a gold medal from prestigious competitions in Hyderabad. She has also been honoured by Drushya Vedika for her contributions to the arts. Beyond dance, Satyanandini harbours a deep interest in theatre, having acted in plays such as 'Kanakapushya Ragam' and 'Danta Vedantam', reflecting her versatile artistic spirit. Gonugunta Ramya Sahithi, the emerging torchbearer, the youngest in the family, born in 2001, is an accomplished performer and a promising scholar. She is currently pursuing her Master of Performing Arts (MPA) at the Central University of Hyderabad. Beginning her training under her mother and later continuing with Guru Vedantam Radheshyam, Ramya's dedication was recognised early with the CCRT Scholarship in 2016. A graded artiste of Doordarshan Hyderabad, Ramya has already performed in over 700 solo and group shows across the country. Her consistent presence in national festivals and her mature stage presence mark her as one of the rising stars in the classical dance circuit. As the conversation with this extraordinary family came to a close, their shared dream became clear: to establish a new dance institution rooted in systematic, high-quality training, blending tradition with contemporary pedagogy. Both Satyanandini and Ramya Sahithi expressed a strong desire to promote not only dance but also theatre, continuing their family's artistic legacy while paving new paths for future generations. The Gonugunta family's journey is a testament to what passion, discipline, and generational dedication can achieve. In a world that's constantly changing, their art stands timeless.
