‘She was electrifying’: Nation mourns the loss of Yamini Krishnamurti, a trailblazing Indian classical dancer

“She’s the reason why I am dancing,” reveals Geeta Chandran, a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, in a conversation with indianexpress.com. She recalls Krishnamurti’s lively stage presence. “She was electrifying. She was iconic. I mean, anybody who saw her dance could never forget it,” Chandran reminisces. “The statement she made with her personal take on the dance and personally how the energy that she invested, that was just mind-blowing.”

Krishnamurthy’s journey in dance began at a young age, inspired by the mystical Thillai Natarajah Temple (Source: Express Archives)

Shinjini Kulkarni, granddaughter of Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj, echoes this sentiment. “She had a bewitching personality on stage with her height and the dynamism with which she performed,” Kulkarni says. “I remember one of the speeches that she was giving and she said that, ‘I came on the stage with the intention of attacking like a tigress.’ And she did that every time.”

Krishnamurti’s journey in dance began at a young age, inspired by the mystical Thillai Natarajah Temple near her childhood home in Chidambaram. Her father, a scholar deeply interested in the arts, ensured her uninterrupted learning. She trained under various renowned gurus, including a brief stint at Kalakshetra under Rukmini Devi Arundale.

What set Krishnamurti apart was her versatility and her role in popularising classical dance forms, particularly in North India. Kulkarni highlights this achievement: “She did this extremely uphill task of popularising Bharatanatyam in the North Indian belt, despite the language barrier, and in the 60s, it was a very, very difficult task.”

However, Chandran also notes the bittersweet nature of an artist’s life. “I feel sad because the last few years of her life were extremely lonely,” she says. “Artists are celebrated in their prime, but after that, I think this is the reality where society just forgets and people move on.” She recalls visiting Krishnamurti in her later years, finding her somewhat isolated but still eager to hear about the dance scene, “because she felt she was a little cut off.”

National level academy for performing arts, Sangeet Natak Akademi, paid tribute to the dancer on X. “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.”

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, President, YSR Congress Party, mentioned, “I’m deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Yamini Krishnamurti garu, the celebrated exponent of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam. My thoughts and prayers are with her family in these difficult times.”

Many others also paid tribute to her, offering their condolences to her family and close friends.

Just got the sad news of the passing away of India’s great dancer Yamini Krishnamurthy, Padmabhushan & 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. #YaminiKrishnamurthy pic.twitter.com/2QKbhdXSo0

— Sonal Mansingh (@sonal_mansingh) August 3, 2024

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🙏🏼#dance #dancer #bharatanatyam #kuchipudi pic.twitter.com/HdL7bnlGkd

— RajaRadhaReddy (@rajaradhareddy) August 3, 2024

Krishnamurti’s impact on younger generations of dancers is undeniable. Kulkarni expresses, “The inspiration that she has given to all of us as young dancers and as empowered women dancers is the ability to own the stage completely unapologetically every time we get on.”

Bharatnatyam Artist Apeksha Niranjan also mourned the loss of the artist, saying “her passing is a significant loss to the world of classical dance. Her dance was not just a performance but an embodiment of grace, storytelling, and deep emotional connection. Her artistry transcended the boundaries of dance, she was a true ambassador of Bharatanatyam who brought its richness to global audiences.”