Dr. D Sridevi

D. Sridevi being conferred Doctrate by Poti Sreeramulu University for her thesis work.

D. Sridevi, born in the year 1972, maternally belongs to Bhagavathula family one of the torch bearer traditional families of Kuchupudi.

Sridevi had the fortune of being initiated to the art form through her Grandfather, esteemed Late Sri. Bhagavatula Rama Kotaiaha and later her dance training continued under her uncle Bhagavatula Sethuram. It is interesting to know as to how she got initiated to dance training by her illustrious grandfather, seeing Sridevi peeping from a small opening of the door when the dance classes was going on, her grandfather observing her keen interest, he started to teach her dance. She recalls how her grandfather was a hero in her younger days, looking forward to be with him in the summer holidays.

Young D Sridevi

Sridevi is well qualified academically too having done her Bachelors in Science, Masters in Fine Arts – Kuchipudi, certificate course in Kuchipudi dance culminating in being conferred doctorate by Potti Sree Ramulu Telugu University for her thesis work. Dr. Sridevi is also selected for Junior Research Fellowship, Central Ministry of Culture, New Delhi for three years. Incidentally, Sridevi is the first Doctrate from the distaff side in the Kuchipudi traditional family.

D Sridevi (right) with her Guru Bhagavatula Sethuram and her mother Mahalakshmi Sundari (from Bhagavatula family)

Sridevi apart from having performed in many prestigious programs, as a solo artist and as part of Ballets and Yakshaganams, is a very profilic writer and has many a publications to her credit.

Notable among them being:
– Her thesis “Yakshaganam Pradarsana Reethulu”,
– Oggu Katha – translated version of the original book Oggu Katha – Abhinaya Samanvayam (Chukka Sattaiah Beerappa Katha Chaturvidaabhinaya Charcha)
– “BLN Vyasaalu”the articles written by Sri Bhagavatula Lakshmi Narasimham.

Sridevi as Rathi

Sridevi is adept as a composer, teacher, judge when it comes to Kuchipudi and her compositions like Dance feature Ashta Lakshmi Stotram (an hour ballet), Dasaavataras & the evolution of species and “Poorvaranga Vidhi” as a dance feature are testimonial to her creativity.

Sridevi penchant for Kuchipudi Yakshaganam could be seen from her presentations on various forms of Yakshaganam of South India. Sridevi has to her credit lecture demos and paper presentation made in International seminars like FOSSILS, Second International Seminar and convention of Kuchipudi dance of Silicon Andhra.

Clippings of an informal talk on Kuchipudi Yakshaganam by Dr. D Sridevi.

In 1995, Sridevi established “Nrityanjali” – A school of Fine Arts after having gained rich experience as dance teacher in ‘Sri Kuchipudi Nritya Nilayam’, ‘Keerthi Kala Niketan’ & ‘Jyothi Fine Arts Academy’. Her students enjoy the unique benefit of having a versatile Guru who is a performer, academician, writer and teacher

Contact address—

Dr. D. Sridevi,
29-468 / 1A. 1st floor,
New Vidyanagar, Neredmet Old P.S.,
Hyderabad 500 056
Mobile:+91 94900 47857,
Email:sridevi_drk@yahoo.com