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 Dance was her life: Yamini Krishnamurthy (1940-2024) - Ashish Mohan Khokar e-mail: khokar1960@gmail.com August 4, 2024 Purna Tilakam was her real middle name. Her art symbolised it. Born to a totally non-dance family of Madanapalle, Andhra, she became a benchmark in and of Bharatanatyam. The form can be divided into two broad phases: before Yamini and after Yamini. Everyone before her faded when she came on professional stage and everyone after her tried to copy her eye make-up, her blouse fan and her mannerisms, pout, spout and all. She was the first prima donna, if India ever had one.  Yamini's feet (Photo: Ashish Khokar) Problem was God created only one original art work and that was Yamini. No one came near her and in later years no one could because of her personality too. Aloof, unreachable and real prisoner of her own circumstances. She was a recluse and she got on with only a very few. I take pride in being in touch with her regularly over a 50 year period, even after leaving Delhi 25 years ago. I looked her up on most visits and her doors were open to me, she said, because I was from a family of dance that loved artistes and understood them in all shades. Coming from a very clinical and almost critical her, it was like getting a Padma award! She trusted me totally and attended most of my book launch functions without fuss and loved to get news of the world outside her institution. Especially Bangalore. She loved the city and the people. "Take me with you, away from this city..." She was India's first Rajnartaki. That means court or state dancer of Delhi. The ministers were besotted with her, the babus craved for a darshan and even prime ministers of the 60-80s gave her importance that a real diva deserved. Yamini was born to dance and dance was her life. A child of eleven was admitted to Kalakshetra and she worked quietly, learning from her teachers Kanchipuram Ellappa Pillai and Tanjore Kittapa Pillai. She was only 15 when she first appeared on professional stage and there was no looking back.  Yamini with father Krishnamurthy (Courtesy: MKDC) Her scholar father steered her life in dance and made her do all things he deemed fit. He introduced her to the rich and the powerful, the high and mighty and soon she arrived in Delhi just 20. "Delhi was a strange place with strange people in the 1970s. They looked violent and they ate many things, including brain! I just could not deal with the 6 seasons. Yes, the four we know of: summer, rain, winter and spring but add fifth aandhi of April. I had never seen dust storms in my life living in South. Sixth was loo not as in English but extreme dry hot-as-hell winds just before mangoes bloomed in summer. Ashish, I cannot tell you only my dance saved me. It is my best friend, best company and best everything. I'm not even school pass and look world fame, for what? Art," she shared with me. She was the first superstar of BN, growing up in Delhi days on the 1960s. I have seen her dancing in pandals and pathshalas; Rashtrapati Bhavan and rare places. She entered the stage as if one lioness has entered. Then no one could look anywhere else. She commanded attention and controlled the audience by pure beauty and strength of her dance.  With Yamini Off stage she could be a giggly school girl, laughing, joking in her screechy voice but once a star always a star. She sent me a defamation notice once in 2001 saying I had made her 70 in my book on BN when she was only 69! I said what difference does one year make? She said: Perception. We remained friendly even after that because she knew our core was honest and served art selflessly, not the artiste alone. She valued others if she was convinced they passed all her tests. Another time travelling with her by train from Bhubaneswar (she had fear of flights as some astrologer had told her she might die in an air crash which is why she never went abroad in recent years), her train ticket stated her age as 59! I said, "Akka, you were 69 ten years ago how can you regress?" She said, " I don't want senior citizen discount by saying my real age!" She was unique. But at heart a child. Soft, zero- cunning and no ill will to anyone. She told me once: "Your father made my career in Delhi and your mother, aiyo, divine dancer who did not get her due but she got you!" She missed having a family and loved all age groups. Rama Vaidyanathan remains her best student till date and she has served her guru till her end, literally. Yamini Krishnamurthy did not get all the Padma awards; the awards got her. The awards Padma Shri, Bhushan and Vibhushan were lucky that they were given to a Purna tilak artiste like Yamini Krishnamurthy. She took leave of us on August 3, suffering from terminal illness and we will always remember her as the diva of the divas; top of the classical dance charts, the complete artiste and one and only, Yamini Krishnamurthy the great.  Critic, connoisseur, historian, author, artivist, archivist, administrator and more - editor, columnist and mentor Ashish Khokar remains true to his muse. More on attendance-india.com Responses * Such a beautiful article and so well written. I am so happy to know you knew her so well and that your relationship survived some ups and downs. It shows her greatness and your humility and large hearted was both commendable. Thank you for sharing this so soon after this huge loss. - Jayasree Bahl (Aug 6, 2024) * Beautifully penned, Ashish ji. What an artist! She lives on inspiring dancers for eternity. Praying for that great soul's atma shanti. - Veena & Dhanya (Aug 6, 2024) * ‘She sent me a defamation notice once in 2001 saying I had made her 70 in my book on BN when she was only 69!’ This line is a symbol of her boldness that how someone can be fearless of anything, despite the count has increased by 1 year only... My humble bow to such a noble and bold soul... You will be missed forever, Guru Yamini. - Nancy Sahu (Aug 5, 2024) * So beautifully penned, a beautiful tribute, Ashish ji. You shared so many precious moments and her persona unknown to all. I’ve never seen her dancing, but a lot admiration and fan love. Pranams. - Nayanika Ghosh (Aug 5, 2024) * So well written . You brought her diva personality to life. It was her performance my father went to and sent me off to Kalakshetra. But you are right, there can only be one Yamini. - Minal Prabhu (Aug 4, 2024) * What a lovely tribute, Ashish ji However much we think we know the great Yamini Krishnamurthy, reading about every facet of her gets us to know more of the greats! - Daksha Mashruwala (Aug 4, 2024) * Blessed to know about an artiste so genuine and passionate. Lots to learn from her. We could get a glimpse of her life by reading this. Thank you, sir. - Archana Chetana (Aug 4, 2024) Post your comments Please provide your name and email id along with your comment. All appropriate comments posted with name and email id in the blog will also be featured in the site. |
