Achutamanasa was born into a philanthropic family, which has an immense love for indigenous Indian culture.At a very tender age of five, as a child she was with a perception that ‘Dance is music and music is dance’. Feeling both are one,she asked her mother to make her join. Her mother Smt.Rajya Lakshmi infused the interest towards arts and got her child admitted to a carnatic vocal school. While learning rudiments in vocal music at the age of six, one fine evening, when she was going to the institute she got fascinated with the rhythmic sounds of Muvvalu (Classical Dance Anklets) and explored what her soul was aspiring for. Having been enthralled by rhythmic footsteps of Kuchipudi (the native Classical Dance form of AndhraPradesh,INDIA) she pested her mother by crying to have an admission to Kuchipudi institute.Namely, there is a transition from her perception and later realized incourse of time that dance is one which has vocal music,instrumental music ,sculpture,painting,and theatre.”Sakala Kala Saaram Natyam”.Even at that tender age, Achutamanasa had a succinct idea of what her soul was aspiring for.Recognizing the ‘spark’ in her child and the agility of her body for Kuchipudi, her mother who herself is a connoisseur immediately accepted her proposal and admitted the child to the institute. Her father, Sri. Ravi Chandra, a senior police Officer encouraged and supported her.
Achutamanasa is a leading exponent of Kuchipudi, the classical dance form of India that has its cultural roots in ancient history. A very talented danseuse, she brings alive the classical traditions of the dance, sensitively nuanced with a creativity that imbues relevance and meaning to this art form in its current age.Achutamanasa is known for enthralling audience with performances that embody perfection in form and joy in expression that comes from years of rigorous training, dedicated practice, and passion. She is deeply grounded in the Kuchipudi tradition and her mission is to bring this art form to a wider audience without losing it's aesthetic and cultural integrity.
The dance journey of this illustrious artist commenced at the age of six under the guidance of Guru Smt.Madhu Nirmala ,who had taught some basic steps. Her debut performance was at the age of six Andhrapradesh, to an audience of over a thousand. She continued her artistic endeavor under the tutelage of renowned gurus by Guru Mahankali Suryanarayana Sarma for 3 years where a strong foundation has been laid. Later, she has been moulded as a complete Kuchipudi artist and has been transformed as a gem of Kuchipudi by her Guru ‘Devaparijatham’,’Raja Hamsa, ’Natyavisarada’ Sri K.V.Subrahmanyam, who is a disciple of the world renowned legendary Gurus Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam and Sri Chintha Adinarayana Sarma . With 22+ years of experience in the field of ARTS by now Achutamanasa performed over 1000+ solo KUCHIPUDI recitals at various prestigious platforms in and across the country and honoured with many awards from several organizations, audience and critics as well .She is a “A Grade artist “of Dhoordharshan –ANational Broad casting Media, The Cultural Ministry of the Government of India recognized the spark of excellence in the young ten year old then and supported her with scholarships to pursue her training for the next decade. She is also an EMPANELLED Member-ARTISTE OF ICCR and Ministry of Culture for festivals of INDIA ABROAD. She holds distinction in Master of Performing Arts-M.A Kuchipudi from Potti Sree Ramulu Telugu University and also a First rank holder in M.A Kuchipudi at Sri Sidhendhra yogi Kuchipudi Kala Peetam, Kuchipudi, Andhrapradesh.
Achutamanasa-A ‘Member of International Dance Council CID- UNESCO’ for the year 2011 , was invited to give performance representing our country, ‘India’, for the 31st World Congress on Dance Research at Didimotiho, Greece. She is adorned with one international award “UNESCO MILLENNIUM BEST CULTURAL AMBASSADOR”and several National –state awards like "PRATHIBHA PURASKAR” by Acharya Nagarjuna University, “NATYAMAYURI”,"SAPTHAGIRI BALAPRAVEENA”- for Classical dance forms, Music and painting, “PRATHIBHA PALLAVAM”- for Classical dance forms, Music and painting,, “NTR MEMORIAL ‘TELUGU MAHILA AWARD’, “KALA SRAVANTHI”- for Classical dance, Music and painting, “GIFTED CHILD” “QUALITY KID” “NATYA KALAMAI”, “Award and Cultural Talent Search Scholarship”,’’Natya Rani”,Yuva KalaRatna’ etc,. Few memorable Performances to her credit are performing at Chennai music academy,Saraswathi Gana Sabha,Chowmohalla palace, Auroville-Pondicherry, Mt.Abu-OmSanthi, Chowdaiah memorial hall-Natyaveda dance festival,Kuwait,Ekamra Dance festival-Odisha,SVBC NAdaNeerajanam,ISB-Hyd,D.D Saptagiri etc.And from 1996 onwards, she gave Kuchipudi performance -3 times for Srivari Brahmotsavams and 19 times for Padmavathi Karthika Brahmotsavams to her most auspicious credit in consecutive 19years till 2015 organized by T.T.D-Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam. She has started a programme “Kuchipudi - My Life” where Art education(Kuchipudi) and as well as social education is being taught rather,shared with the children(state home), aspirants who have passion for it, belonging to downtrodden communities unable to afford it.She also released “KUCHIPUDI NRITYABHINAYA VEDAM-MOKSHA MARGAM” DVDS(vol1 &2) for sharing art to the posterity and for helping the girl child(children home-One of the student also recieved state award and selected for president award recently) for their art and social education with the profits earned through this DVD.It was released by H.H Sri Chinna Jeeyar swamiji,H.H Sri Viswamji, Sri Ganta Srinivasarao and Padmasri K.Viswanath this 2015 with a roaring success. First time ever in the history of classical dance performed “ Temple Ritual Dance-Prekhini Natyam” solo recital (simhanandini, mayurakavthavm, mahalakshmi udbhavam-Dancer paints a picture though footwork) on dec 20th, 2015 at kalabharati, vizag and is hounoured and felicitated by Minister for Eeducation Sri Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Minister for HR and Culture Sri Palle Raghunath Reddy.
Achutamanasa always says
“Kuchipudi is my passion-devotion,my breath and my life! It only ends up when my life ceases”.
She also emphatically declares
“I strongly believe and strictly follow a lifecycle indulged with the noble principles, like learn, share, discuss, explore ,experience and just enjoy each and every moment of life”.
She further says“While whatever activity I am in, I strongly believe in purity, transparency, clarity, focus, hard work, patience, time, dedication, self-discipline, love and her own self, which are essential traits for the true success of an individual”.
Ingenuously and eagerly she says ---
In one single life,would like to explore as much as I can,
I have no hobbies, rather I consider them to be my passions”
Her quest for knowledge,passion for fine arts, made her explore,learn various art forms of India .She being versatile genious explored not only just Kuchipudi but also many other art forms of India. The unique part is that she is one of the rarest artist who is trained in five classical Dance Forms of India,namely “Kuchipudi”,“Bharathanatyam” “Kathak” “Temple Ritual dance called Prenkini Natyam(dancer paints a picture using rangoli with footwork) –Simhanandhini,Mayurakauthvam,Sri Lakshmi Udbhavam, and ”Mohiniyattam”. She is practitioner of all the artforms she has been pursuing since childhood,amongst which KUCHIPUDI is her major since she believes in preserving ones own art form by onesself protects all the art forms of INDIA on a whole.
She being versatile artist-humanbeing explored and experiencing divinity of art in every fine arts.
She is trained in “Bharathanatyam” (Pandhallur) under the guidance of Guru Dr. Devendra Pillai. Head of the Dance Department, S.V.Dance and Music College, Tirupathi.
She is trained in “Bharathanatyam” (Pandhallur) under the guidance of Guru Dr. Devendra Pillai. Head of the Dance Department, S.V.Dance and Music College, Tirupathi.
She is trained in “Kathak” (Lucknow Gharana) under Guru Pandit Anju Babu, Kathak exponent, Kathak Kalakshetra, Hyderabad.
She is also trained in Temple Ritual dances- Devalaya Aaradhana Nrityas-Prenkini Natyam, in which the dancer forms the pictures of LION - a Vaahana of Goddess Kali, Peacock - a Vaahana of Kumaraswamy, LOTUS - a symbol of Goddess Laxmidevi, with footwork called “Simhanandini, Mayura Kauthvam and Mahalaxmi Udbhavam “dances respectively, under GURU Smt.Voleti Rangamani-the daughter of legendary C.R.Acharya the originator of this artform.
She is also learning “Mohiniyattam” as part of Cultural exchange programme with Dr.Mythili Anoop-Mohiniyattam exponent,Sharing Kuchipudi to her in return.
She learnt “Carnatic Vocal”, “Light Music” in the directions of Sri M.S. Bala Subramanyam for few years,now pursuing under Sri N.C.H. Butchacharyulu.
especially in Stumping,oil paintings and M.S. Paint. (Which is done on a computer monitor with the help of mouse.). As a child prodigy, she learnt Janapada Arts (Rural Arts) in her schooling itself. To her credit, she won several championships in sports and games like tennikoit and shuttle badminton in her school days. She has expertise in choreography which she had started at the age of 12.She had choreographed several solo and Group songs from spiritual to secular like Annamaya keerthanas,Thillanas(one jugalbandhi with Kuchipudi,Kathak and Bharatanatyam), Taranagams etc., to Vande mataram,Jana gana mana etc., till date.She performs over 108 annamaya keerthanas apart from traditional songs of kuchipudi.She has a penchant for photography also Photography link
Achutamanasa says
“My life on the whole is my Passion,
India and her culture is my fashion”
Achutamanasa-A ‘Member of International Dance Council CID- UNESCO’ for the year 2011 , was invited to give performance representing our country, ‘India’, for the 31st World Congress on Dance Research at Didimotiho, Greece. She is adorned with one international award “UNESCO MILLENNIUM BEST CULTURAL AMBASSADOR”and several National –state awards like "PRATHIBHA PURASKAR” by Acharya Nagarjuna University, “NATYAMAYURI” , "SAPTHAGIRI BALAPRAVEENA”- for Classical dance forms, Music and painting, “PRATHIBHA PALLAVAM”- for Classical dance forms, Music and painting, “NTR MEMORIAL ‘TELUGU MAHILA AWARD’, “KALA SRAVANTHI”- for Classical dance, Music and painting, “GIFTED CHILD” “QUALITY KID”“NATYA KALAMAI”, “Award and Cultural Talent Search Scholarship”,’’Natya Rani”,Yuva KalaRatna’ ,UGADHI PURASKARAM from Honble CM Sri Nara Chandrababu naidu, Govt of Andhra pradesh, NrityaSiromani, KalaBhushan etc,. Few memorable Performances to her credit are performing at Chennai music academy, Saraswathi Gana Sabha, Chowmohalla palace, Auroville - Pondicherry, Mt.Abu-OmSanthi,Chowdaiah memorial hall-Natyaveda dance festival, Kuwait, Ekamra Dance festival-Odisha, SVBC NAdaNeerajanam- telecasted live worldwide, ISB-Hyd,D.D Saptagiri etc. And from 1996 onwards, she gave Kuchipudi performance -3 times for Srivari Brahmotsavams and 19 times for Padmavathi Karthika Brahmotsavams to her most auspicious credit in consecutive 19years till 2015 organized by T.T.D-Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam.
Achutamanasa, a Kuchipudi Danseuse is a dedicated student of this splendour art form. She has brought a totally novel look, lyrical beauty, rhythmic recharge to movements. The striking aspect of her dance is that she stirs up the hearts and souls of the audience through her Satvikabhinaya especially as (expressions and rhythmic movements) and make them respond to her.
Her exuberance can be seen in her “Navarasa Expressions”: ‘Satvikabhinaya’ is one of the main hallmarks of Achutamanasa. From 1996 onwards, she gave Kuchipudi performance for 3 times for Srivari Brahmotsavams and 19 times for Padmavathi Karthika Brahmotsavams in consecutive 18years till 2015 organized by T.T.D(Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams). Apart from traditional items of ‘Kuchipudi’ she does more than 108 Annamacharya Keerthanas in kuchipudi.
She recently released Kuchipudi DVDS ( vol 1 & 2 ) named "Kuchipudi Nrityabhinaya Vedam - Moksha Margam" in Telangana, Ravindrabharati, Hyderabad by H.H.Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, Ganta Srinivasa rao garu-Honble Minister for education and in Andhrapradesh,KalaBharati,Vizag by H.H Viswa yogiViswam ji and Padmasri K.Viswanath garu with a roaring success.The purpose of the DVD is to share the art to the posterity and also to share the amount we get through these dvds to the children-her students(Girl child) at children home(govt owned orphanage) whom she has been teaching Kuchipudi since 5 years (started with a campaign called Kuchipudi-mylife in 2010-One of her student also recieved state award and president award recently), for their art and social education.
She did her graduation in B.Tech. (CSE) with a distinction which in turn gave her an opportunity to work in TCS-MNC through campus placements in her third year itself. A Software Engineer by education, she is highly committed to the classical art-forms and an energetic silent social and cultural innovator .She is an aspirant of services to do her best for India-Humanity on a whole.