Are the 108 Karanas, Charis, Mandala part of the Kuchipudi R

sumikrish · Post by **sumikrish** » 02 Nov 2009, 16:02

Some time back, my friend joined the Kuchipudi Dance Academy as she read on http://www.kuchipudi.com/htmlfiles/origins3.htm that 'the 108 Karanas and also the Charis and Mandala are part of the Kuchipudi repertoire'. She was very impressed by mentioning Natya Shastra. Only later she found out that karanas are not part of the curriculum.

<edited by mod. Name calling and unfounded accusations are removed. Changed the title so a productive discussion can take place>

vempati · Post by **vempati** » 12 Dec 2009, 08:24

who is this sumikrish?

What do you know about Kuchipudi art academy or kuchipudi dance?
Do you know what you are talking? Please come to India or chennai to punish the culprits such as Vempati chinna Satyam.
When you do not know the subject, you have no authority to comment just because you have some forum to speak.

Have you been to Kuchipudi Art Academy chennai before in your life time. Pls come and see what students are tought.
if you have the guts please mention your great friend's name who came to chennai to learn kuchipudi. To learn full Kuchipudi repertoire including 108 karanas you need to spend atleast 15 years of learning.
Do you know anybody (dancer of any classical form) who have claimed to have learned or mastered Natya Sastra.

Dont talk rubbish.

I think a reputed web portal like rasikas.org should refrain from airing views like this.

lakshmi87 · Post by **lakshmi87** » 12 Dec 2009, 17:15

Who is "Vempati"?

vempati wrote:To learn full Kuchipudi repertoire including 108 karanas you need to spend atleast 15 years of learning.

At Kuchipudi Art Academy or at Nrithyodaya?

Which Kuchipudi dance performance had more than 10-15 karanas in it?

bh0912 · Post by **bh0912** » 13 Dec 2009, 08:44

I don't think that this arrogant "vempati" is Vempati Chinna Satyam.
Vempati sir would have realized that this forum is not a sarkari circle of Delhi, Hyderaband or Chennai, and we are not "reputed" politicians trying to bully others. Whether you are an "established" dance authority or not does not give you the right to post false info on your site.

I have been to Kuchipudi Art Academy, and I know that there is no Kuchipudi repertoire including 108 karanas. That's a fact.

vempati · Post by **vempati** » 13 Dec 2009, 10:06

Thanks for your reply.

This is Venkat Vempati, Director Kuchipudi Art Academy and son of Padma Bhushan Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam.

I suggest instead of sitting in front of this computer and commenting on the forums, it is better I invite some body to our insitiution.
One note I would like to make here and stop this discussion; Our guruji says even now at this age of 81 years that he has not learned or understood Natya Sastra fully (This is the man who brought out this art form to outside world along with other legends)

If you have any doubt you are free to write to our email address [email protected]

narayanat · Post by **narayanat** » 13 Dec 2009, 20:18

Dear Mr. Venkat vempati,

Can you please address the issue/question that has been posed on the forum?-
- Does the reverred Guru Dr Vempati aware of the material you have posted ( on Karanas) on your website ? or this is a done by you?
- can you please outline the research work done by your institution on Karanas ?
If you cannot reply to these points its only logical that you edit your website.
Thank you, Narayana

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 14 Dec 2009, 00:58

Has this forum become an arena of accusation and trial?

Does not seem appropriate to me.

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 14 Dec 2009, 01:14

The original post has been edited by the mods. Name calling and unfounded accusations are removed. Changed the title so a productive discussion can take place.

Members, keep the discussions to the new title of this topic and not specific to any one institution's curriculum.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 14 Dec 2009, 01:30

Address the issue instead of spitting poison on the person

lol4512 · Post by **lol4512** » 16 Dec 2009, 09:41

This is a very difficult question to answer. the 108 karanas mostly effect the bharatanatyam style of dance. this side of dance was nearly a forgotten past. no one that i know or heard have completed all 108 karanas. except couple. to learn more i would say read the natya shastra and see what you understand because like i said before this is a very difficult question to answer.

vempati · Post by **vempati** » 17 Dec 2009, 18:17

I would lie to first respond to the question that did Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam garu know the materials posted on the web site. The answer is Yes.

this web site was designed long back as far as 15 years. Infact he has edited all the materials what you see on this web site.

For information. Dr. Vempati had startd writing few books on Kuchipudi repertoire long back say 20 to 25 years. But he could not finish them as he had stroke and sotpped. but what ever he did we started reporducing them in our publications.

there are two things One is the Kuchipudi repertoire and Kuchipudi curricullum. Does Kuchipudi repertoire has karnas, charis and mandalas? Yes it does have.

For details Yes I can provide a detailed info with references etc. ASAP.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 17 Dec 2009, 18:47

This is just an internet forum.

From time to time it moves outside the simple sharing of our shared enjoyment, and can become controversial. However, nobody is under any obligation whatsoever to respond to charges and accusations whether they are from strangers or known persons.

Often it may be better just to ignore them, and let them be forgotten in the archives of the internet (although it is true that Google sees all things). Responding serves to keep stuff in the public eye.

... Just an observation from an internet forum addict.

narayanat · Post by **narayanat** » 17 Dec 2009, 20:15

Dear Shri Venkat

I think it will be a great idea for you to bring forth the presence of Karanas in Kuchipudi to the world audience. Many of us are not aware of of it. why don't you organize a seminar / lec dem for interested people? you can share with the world you research, papers demonstration etc.. w.r.t to Karanas & Kuchipudi.
thank you

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 17 Dec 2009, 21:51

>there are two things One is the Kuchipudi repertoire and Kuchipudi curriculum. Does Kuchipudi repertoire has karnas, charis and mandalas? Yes it does have.

I think the original poster got these two issues, repertoire vs curriculum, mixed up. Thanks for the clarification.

lakshmi87 · Post by **lakshmi87** » 17 Dec 2009, 22:48

vempati wrote:this web site was designed long back as far as 15 years. Infact he has edited all the materials what you see on this web site.

I can't see it on http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://kuchipudi.com

vempati wrote: Does Kuchipudi repertoire has karnas, charis and mandalas? Yes it does have.For details Yes I can provide a detailed info with references etc. ASAP.

Nobody claimed that there are no karanas in Kuchipudi.
It will be very constructive if you provide references to Kuchipudi repertoire having 108 karanas (not just a dozen or two).

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 18 Dec 2009, 02:54

Oh... never mind...