Dandibhotla Srinivasa Venkata Sastry

D S V Sastry

D S V Sastry, though not a direct descendant of the Kuchipudi traditional family, has been very closely associated in Kuchipudi village among his peers of the traditional families. The whole hearted prolific contribution to Kuchipudi and its genre Kuchipudi Yakshaganam more through his music has made the members of the traditional families to consider his arrival to the village as a God sent or sent by Siddhendra Yogi himself to fill the void witnessed in keeping the Kuchipudi Yakshaganam sangeetham – music flag flying high.

Being a part of the Kuchipudi village, it is all but natural that D S V Sastry has learnt Kuchipudi dance, Kuchipudi Yakshaganam music, mask making for dance, the whole gamut of arts related to Kuchipudi dance. His family has a distinct tilt to art with younger brother, Sri Dandibhotla Narayana Sastry too being a kuchipudi dancer and now one of the well renowned writer and his sister, a singer, is married to Sri Vedantam Ramalingam Sastry, who is also incidentally his mentor.

Born on August 29^th, 1973, D S V Sastry is basically a humble and sober person and lets his work speak. He is academically well qualified with Bachelor of Arts in Carnatic Music – Gold Medalist – from Potti Sree Ramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, ‘Sangeetha Alankar’ (equivalent to Masters) awarded by Akhila Bharata Gandharva Mahavidyalay Mandal, Mumbai.

He is fortunate to be trained in Carnatic music and Kuchipudi Sangeetham by Sangeet Natak Awardee & Kalaratna, Sri Pasumarthy Venugopala Sarma and is also well trained Kuchipudi dancer having learnt under illustrious Guru Sri Vedantam Radheshyam and Sri Vedantam Rattayya Sarma.

Sri D S V Sastry’s singing with the golden touch in his voice coupled with detailed raga elaboration soaked in rasa exhibiting his mastery over raga and the technique of rendering ensures an absorbing and enthralling performance. As much as being traditionalist in his approach, Sri D S V Sastry is a musical phenomenon to whom perfection of tone and execution come as spontaneously with free and unfettered flow of ideas paving way for breathtaking performances.

Currently he is part of the Department of Dance, Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad as a Vocalist.

He has one of the unique records of having been part of either the music or nattuvangam of almost all prestigious contemporary leading Kuchipudi artists of the country.

The list of musical concerts and performances reveals the opportunity provided to him to exhibit his talent and earn accolades from most part of the country and score of countries abroad spread over the length and breadth of the Globe right from Asia to the Americas.

He has been part of various Dance festivals – Khajuraho, Konark, Sangeetha Natak Academy, Millenium, SICA, Mudra (Kerala), Uday Shankar Dance, Kuchipudi Mahostavs among others, while he has performed in prestigious Sabhas and Academies including that of Music Academy, Chennai, ICCR concerts, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthana, Visaka Music and Dance Academy among others.

Recognized as a B grade Artist in Lalita Sangeetham by AIR, he has written and composed various keertanas and tillanas apart from creating a new raga – ‘Sripriya’.

He is well known for his contribution to Kuchipudi Yakshaganam sangeetham.

The list of music compositions (100 in all) made by him for various Kuchipudi Yakshaganam, ballets, kelikas, etc are:

For his wholehearted approach and significant contributions made to Kuchipudi art form, he was recently conferred with the award ‘Chinta Krishnamurthy Yakshagana Yuva Sutradhara Puraskar’ by Siddhendra Yogi Devalaya Abhivruddhi Committee, Kuchipudi during the Siddhendra Yogi Natyakalotsav, 2012.

A clipping from the lecture demo he handled at the Siddhendra Yogi Natyakalotsav, 2012 with regard to nuances of composing Kuchipudi Sampradhaya sangeetham is uploaded at:

His penchant for composing music for Kuchipudi Yakshaganam and dance is reflected from the excellent captivating compostions already made by him winning not only award and rewards but also facilitating to expand his repertoire and the resultant increased opportunities in both traditional art field and the contemporary plethora of media avenues – television, motion pictures, etc.

Sri Dandibotla Srinivasa Venkata Sastry is a wholesome product of the Kuchipudi village with the blessings, teachings and encouragement of all the members of the traditional Kuchipudi families, what with the ability to dance, sing, compose, choreograph, teach and above all preserve the traditional approach to art and yet improvise with an aesthetic blend coming naturally to him, one would expect a lot more from this prolific artist a product of Kuchipudi in the years to come.

Dandibotla Srinivasa Venkata Sastry,

FR1, Samskriti Prangan,

Baba Nagar, Nacharam

Hyderabad – 500076, A.P.

Mobile: +91 97018 93394

Email : dsvsastry@gmail.com