Kuchipudi Exponent Shobha Naidu Passes Away

Kuchipudi dance exponent Shobha Naidu passed away in the early hours of Wednesday at a private hospital in Hyderabad. She was admitted to the hospital for a neurological illness four days ago, her family members said.

She was born in 1956 at Anakapalli in Andhra Pradesh and had received her training in Kuchipudi dance from Vempati Chinna Satyam. She mastered the art of Kuchipudi and began dancing for lead roles in dance-dramas at a very young age.

She has performed with her guru’s troupe across the country and abroad. She excelled in the roles of Satyabhama and Padmavati. She is an excellent solo dancer. She also choreographed several dance-dramas and had given stage performances in the US, UK, Dubai, Turkey, Hong Kong Cuba and Mexico.

In 2001, Naidu was awarded the civilian honour of Padma Shri by the Government of India. In 1991, she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi award and before that she was awarded the title of ‘Nritya Choodamani’ by the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha of Madras.

She also served as the principal for the 40-year-old Kuchipudi Art Academy, Hyderabad. She trained more than 1,500 students from India and abroad.

Condolences have been pouring in on social media over her death. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.