Yamini Krishnamurthy, an iconic figure in Indian classical dance, passed away on August 3 at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi at the age of 83. Known for her contributions to Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, Krishnamurthy had been suffering from age-related issues and spent the last seven months in the ICU, as confirmed by her manager and secretary, Ganesh.
Her mortal remains will be brought to her dance institute, Yamini School of Dance, in Hauz Khas on August 4. The details of her last rites have yet to be finalized. Krishnamurthy is survived by her two sisters.
Born on December 20, 1940, in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh, Krishnamurthy’s life was deeply intertwined with dance from a very young age. Her father, M. Krishnamurti, a Sanskrit scholar, enrolled her in the Kalakshetra School of Dance in Chennai at just five years old. There, she trained under the legendary Bharatanatyam dancer Rukmini Devi Arundale. Krishnamurthy’s dance repertoire expanded as she mastered Kuchipudi and later learned Odissi under the guidance of maestros like Pankaj Charan Das and Kelucharan Mohapatra. In addition to her dance skills, she was trained in Carnatic music and veena.
Her remarkable talent and dedication earned her the Padma Shri at 28, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016. In 1977, she was also honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, further solidifying her place in the world of classical dance.
Reflecting on her impact, Rama Vaidyanathan, one of Krishnamurthy’s first students and a veteran dancer herself, described her as someone who brought “power, beauty, and glamour” to Bharatanatyam. “Bharatanatyam is not going to be the same without her… She was so focused and dedicated to classical dance. I am so fortunate to have been her first student almost 40 years ago. She added the star quality to the dance form,” Vaidyanathan told PTI. She also recalled how Krishnamurthy seemed to be perpetually consumed by dance, once noting how during a train journey, she saw her teacher sitting in the dark, deep in thought about a dance composition, while everyone else slept around her. “She was doggedly and feverishly dedicated to Bharatanatyam,” Vaidyanathan added.
The news of Krishnamurthy’s passing prompted an outpouring of grief on social media. Former Rajya Sabha MP and Bharatanatyam dancer Sonal Mansingh mourned her passing, saying Krishnamurthy “blazed like a meteor in the sky.” In a heartfelt post, she shared, “Just got the sad news of the passing away of India’s great dancer Yamini Krishnamurthy, Padmabhushan and Padma Vibhushan awardee. She blazed like a meteor across the sky, the firmament of the Indian dance art. She was my senior. We all looked up to her.”
Several political figures, including Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, also expressed their condolences. Governor Dattatreya, in a statement from Hyderabad, praised Krishnamurthy’s contributions to classical dance and prayed for peace for her soul. Chief Minister Naidu highlighted her role as the ‘asthana narthaki’ (resident dancer) of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) and acknowledged her efforts in bringing fame to Kuchipudi dance internationally. Former Chief Minister Reddy also took to X, sharing, “I’m deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Yamini Krishnamurthy garu, the celebrated exponent of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam. My thoughts and prayers are with her family in these difficult times.”
Raja and Radha Reddy, a famous Kuchipudi dancing couple, reflected on her passing with deep reverence, stating, “The Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi Prima Donna Yamini Krishnamurthy has attained the moksham at the feet of Nataraja the lord of dance…. A colossal loss to the dance world…. RIP dear friend Om Shanti.”
Another Bharatanatyam exponent, Jayalakshmi Eshwar, paid tribute to Krishnamurthy by acknowledging her global impact on the dance form, especially in Northern India. Eshwar recalled her encounters with Krishnamurthy and the confidence it gave her as a young dancer. “She made the dance form known globally, especially in the north. She was the most fantastic dancer with her beautiful expressions. It’s very sad. I have been to her classes a few times. I was her junior at Kalakshetra and the few times I met her she called me to take her practice, that gave me a lot of confidence as a young dancer. She was a very lovable and affectionate person.”
The Sangeet Natak Akademi also mourned her passing, posting from its official X handle: “Sangeet Natak Akademi and its associate bodies deeply mourn the sad demise of Yamini Krishnamurti, a leading Bharatanatyam exponent, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellow, and Padma Vibhushan Awardee, who passed away today. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved ones and prayers to the Almighty to give them enough strength to bear this irreparable loss.”
Yamini Krishnamurthy’s legacy as a pioneering figure in Indian classical dance remains indelible. Her contributions to Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, coupled with her dedication and passion, ensured that these traditional art forms gained global recognition. Her passing marks the end of an era, but her influence will undoubtedly continue to inspire generations of dancers to come.
