Custodians of art

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While the custodians of Andhra culture were busy aiming for a ‘classical’ status for Kuchipudi, here was a dancing duo that catapulted the dance form on to the national arena by virtue of their remarkable performances. Meet Raja and Radha Reddy from Delhi, the perfect couple who danced their way into the hearts of the likes of Indira Gandhi, Fidel Castro and Dr Karan Singh way back in the 70’s and never looked back.

It is no exaggeration that Raja Reddy bestowed a poise and refinement to the dance without letting go the traditional strengths of this particular genre in letter and spirit. His wife Radha is a personification of grace and energy — qualities that are a must for the lasya (feminine moments) aspect.
Together they worked magic not just in the first flush of their youth but even today, and their audience bears testimony to this.
“Only now, we are a five-some,” says Kaushalya, the other half of Raja Reddy who also happens to be Radha’s younger sister.
Raja, Radha and Kaushalya Reddy, the famous trio of Kuchipudi, are more than just great dancers, they are the torchbearers of a great art form, revivalists of a dying tradition which a few years ago was confined only to Andhra Pradesh.
Apart from the family ties that the trio shares, another common factor that binds them together is their devotion and dedication to the classical dance form. Raja Reddy, a Padmashree awardee in this art, hails from an agricultural background. A childhood fascination for dance had him leaving his small village in Andhra Pradesh to learn dance in Hyderabad and finally shift to Delhi.
It was dance that brought his child bride, Radha, to him despite initial parental opposition. And it was dance that united him with the vivacious Kaushalya. Raja Reddy says, “Our common passion for dance is what binds us together. Radha and I make for a complete tandavam and lasyam — a complete dancing duo.”
Raja was also Kaushalya’s guru, and when guru and shishya wished to marry, the reluctant and shy Radha gave the younger sister her blessings.
Jan Murray once wrote about the duo in The Guardian: “Raja and Radha Reddy attractive pair, she tiny, curvaceous and prone to fits of giggles, he tall and romantically handsome.”
Among the Reddy family, the harmony is spontaneous. Raja laughs, “Kaushalya is the nattuvangam (conductor) for us when Radha and I perform. And when Kaushalya performs solo, I am the nattuvangam.”
The two sisters have together raised two daughters Yamini and Bhavna in a loving household. While Kaushalya has been more of a friend to Yamini and Bhavna, Radha has been more of a mother. “I am a mother to all three of them,” admits Radha, who has been performing with Bhavna and Yamini since they were young.
The beaming grandmother is thrilled to have a grandson, Arjun, and hopes to perform with him as well. “I played the role of Radha with Bhavna as Krishna, and now I want to play Yashoda to my grandson,” says Radha.
Though their mothers never asked them to, Bhavna and Yamini independently chose to stay in the same field. Apart from dance, Bhavna is also into western music and is currently settled in Los Angeles. Yamini, who has devoted herself to classical dance, feels that giving birth to a son has helped her understand her mothers better.
“They have been extremely loving and patient with us and have always struck a balance between personal and professional life. I hope to do the same with my child,” avers Yamini.
Kaushalya shares, “We have always had a great time together. My daughters and I have always been great friends, travelling, dancing and having fun together.”
Talking about how dance binds them together, Radha says, “Of course, Rajaji choreographs most of our performances, but tips from family members are always welcome. While dancing together we fight like cats and dogs at times, but sometimes our daughters even give suggestions on a particular choreography that might have not struck Rajaji or me, which improves the scope for improvisation.”
Since the time the family set their foot in Delhi, Reddy’s Kuchipudi School of Dance and Music called Natya Taringini has grown in stature — from three students, the school now boasts of strength of atleast 100 students apart from a number of others, who have learnt Kuchipudi under their tutelage.
While Raja Reddy teaches them tandava elements of Kuchipudi dance (strongly masculine movements), Radha and Kaushlya Reddy teach the lasya. “Rajaji is a strict disciplinarian when it comes to teaching students, while didi is a patient and a compassionate teacher, almost like a motherly figure to students. And I am more like an administrator and a friend to them,” smiles Kaushalya.