A night of Kuchipudi
The 30th Parampara Series opened with a beautiful Kuchipudi performance by Raja Radha Reddy Troupe
Raja Radha Reddy and Kaushalya Reddy have been at this since 1976, nearly five decades now, building up Natya Tarangini into what it is today, a real stronghold for Indian performing art. All of those years of cultural preservation set the ideal stage for the milestone 30th Parampara Series, which just opened at Kamani Auditorium. Walking into the grand hall felt like crossing into a sacred space where cosmic cycles took shape through rhythmic footwork and expressive eyes. The Raja Radha Reddy Troupe brought the ancient essence of Kuchipudi vividly alive before the audience. We first witnessed Mahapranadeepam — Shivam, which explored Lord Shiva as Nataraja, the powerful creator and destroyer.
The performers physically embodied the loud, echoing strikes of Shiva’s two-sided damaru. They beautifully captured the 14 sounds associated with the Maheshwara Sutras through their precise movements. Seeing them perform live completely absorbed the entire room. Every heavy stomp on the wooden floor and wide sweeping motion of their hands drew us further into a quiet spiritual trance.
It felt exactly like watching the actual heartbeat of the universe taking shape right in front of us.
The intense cosmic energy softened as Radha Reddy took the stage in Muddu Krishna, portraying the devoted Naagpatni. Her performance conveyed profound sorrow, pleading with Lord Krishna to spare her serpent husband Kaliya. You could almost feel the poisoned lake trembling as Krishna gracefully departed the serpent’s hood, restoring purity to the water. Reddy ended the piece with a joyous outpouring of song and dance, radiating genuine relief.
The evening offered an unforgettable journey through Indian mythology grounded in raw human emotion that five decades of dedicated artistic practice can successfully achieve on a modern stage.
A breathtaking Kuchipudi performance that masterfully bridges cosmic mythology, deep cultural heritage, and raw emotion
