Vedantam Ramalinga Sastry is an Indian classical dancer in Kuchipudi. . He was born on June 3, 1963, to Suryanarayana and Sathyavatamma in Kuchipudi, Andhra Pradesh.[1] He earned fame as a choreographer, writer, dancer, actor and researcher. He won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2012 for his research on Kuchipudi dance form.[2] He is the Principal of Siddhendra Yogi Kuchipudi Kalapeetham.[3] [4]
Ramalinga Sastry completed his SSC in 1979 in his native Kuchipudi. Bachelor's degree in Telugu from Andhra University in 1984 and Master's degree (Telugu) from Osmania University in 1990. He did diploma in Kuchipudi dance from Potti Sriramulu Telugu University. He received his doctorate from Osmania University on "Development of Kuchipudi Drama in Telugu".
Ramalinga Sastry learned Kuchipudi from famous dance masters like Vempati Chinasatyam, Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma, Kuchipudi Kulapati Vempati Peda Satyam and Vedantam Radheshyam. He studied literature under the guidance of Gangadhara Rao, Sivunuri Viswanatha Sarma and Ch Subramanya Sarma.
Ramalinga Sastry worked as a dance teacher in the South-Central Railway, Hyderabad Division from 1989 to 2004. He established "Sri Vedantam Kuchipudi Kala Parishad" and trained hundreds of students, Kuchipudi artists/disciples as dancers and dance teachers. Since 2005, summer training classes have been conducted at Kuchipudi Kalapeeth.
He designed Kuchipudi syllabus for school lessons, degree, post graduate (UG, PG) courses. By June 2021, 126 metaphors (dance ballets) have been written across all Kuchipudi processes. This is an all-time record in Kuchipudi dance history. He has written more than 100 articles on Kuchipudi dance process. Authored books "Kuchipudi Natya Vikasam in Telugu", "Kuchipudi Vyasamanjari", "Gajananiyam", "Brahmana Sarvasvam", "Itanu Bhama".
He wrote many Padaalu on Kuchipudi Ramalingeswara Swamy just like Kshetraya's padaalu. Kuchipudi dance history, which has a history of a thousand years, is divided into eras. The importance of Kuchipudi kriyas has been codified and made into documents.
He revived the process of "Kelika" in Kuchipudi dance (nominal in the 14th century) and composed more than 30 works, many of which were performed. He is also credited with composing and performing over 50 theme songs.
Ramalinga Sastry designed and performed all kinds of Kuchipudi procedures. Nartanasala, Vinayaka Chaviti, Vedoddharana and Natyaveda are among the 126 Rupakas. He has done hundreds of performances as villains like Duryodhana, Kamsa, Keechaka, Tarakasura, Hiranyakashipu, Ravanasura, Gajasura, Somakasura, supporting characters like Vishnuchittu, Narada, Vipranarayanudu and Buddha.
He choreographed ten Kuchipudi yakshaganaas, many javalis and padaalu. Directed more than 30 dance forms. Ramalinga Sastry himself choreographed and added all the necessary touches to it, directing it and performing with himself as the lead role and performing with his family members and disciples. Kuchipudi Natya has been divided into 9 stages and has given their objectives. He created and composed four important darvus which are introductory darvu, descriptive darvu, santvana darvu and preyodarvu.
Siddendra Yogi added one in the 13th century to the five darvus mentioned in Bharatamuni Natya Shastra, while Ramalinga Sastry created and composed four more darvus. Combining all these, the system of "Dasavidhadarvulu" became established in Kuchipudi dance. Ramalinga Sastry has divided the thousands of years of Kuchipudi dance history of into eras - Praksiddendra, Siddendra, Kelika, Nritya Nataka, Yakshagana, Bhagavatula Ramayya, Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastry, Vempati Chinasatyam Yugas and explained the dance history of those eras.
Also, in Kuchipudi Natyam, he mentioned nine processes namely Sanskrit Rupakas, Kalapamula, Kelika, Nrityanatakam, Yaksha Gane, Nritya Rupakam, Nritya Natika, Vyastamsam, Ekapatrakelikam and proved their objectives. He was the first Kuchipudi dance guru to write, choreograph and perform extensively in all the above processes. He also wrote "Umakalapamu", the third masterpiece of Kuchipudi dance art. The first one Bhamakalapam written in the 13th century, the second one Gollakalapam in the 18th century and the third one was written by him.
Ramalinga Sastry gave Kuchipudi performances in 18 venues during his visit to Syria in 1998. Nartanashala, Srinivasa Kalyanam dance forms were performed in London. Performed at ETA Festival. In 2008, Kuchipudi traveled to the USA and gave many performances.
An article in the Hindu daily described the guru as a "Kuchipudi Maestro".[9] Addressing him as Kuchipudi maestro after Padma Bhushan China Satyam is another honor for Ramalinga Sastry. This is a proof of the knowledge he has in Kuchipudi.
Ramalinga Sastry wife's name is Venkata DurgaBhavani. She is a Post Graduate in Carnatic Music, Telugu. She is also a music director, singer and gained a considerable reputation in Nattuwangam. Since 1990, along with her husband, she has been collaborating as a key partner in all major performances and various seminars. They have two children. Satya Phani Krishna Dattu (Ghanapathi Krishna Yajurveda), Mohana Satyasrinivasa Vagdevi Prasad (M.A. Kuchipudi Dance, Kuchipudi, Sattvikabhinayam, Yakshaganam, Diploma in Carnatic Music). Eldest son is a teacher of Yajurveda. Elder daughter-in-law Devi Bhavani is a dance artist. The younger son is a choreographer and also the author of "Kuchipudi Karadeepika".