Temples, considered as the birth places of Hindu Culture are coats for various fine arts. Many art forms are not only born in the temples but also developed and attained the present practice also in the temples only. These art forms started from temples, then entered the courts of emperors and kings and then reached the general public stages by spreading their fragrance of art around the world. The origins of these fine arts which are well received and well regaled by the ordinary people have their roots in the temples only. Such art form which has ancient roots in our culture but heard with a new name is Andhra Natyam.
Indian classical art forms are divided into two sectors like NatyaMelam( one which was usually performed by male dances) and NattuvaMelam(one which was usually performed by female danseuses) . Andhra Natyam can be considered as NattuvaMelam of Indian classical dances which is more popularly performed in the historical Andhra region.
Historical Andhra Region which is much broader than what it is today, is the place where the Lasya style of classical Indian dance Andhra Natyam was performed in the temples, courts of kings and public stages. Around 40-50 years ago this dance style was called as Alaya Nrutyam, Asthana Nartanam, Darbar Aata, Karnatakam etc.
In 1947 when SITA act started implementing by banning the women to perform in the temples and courts of kings, the women danseuses gradually stopped performing this dance art form. Predicting the loss that is going to happen to these great art forms legendary artists like E.Krishnayyar, Rukmini Arandel put all their efforts to save these art forms and by bringing together all the classical dance art forms they named it Bharata Natyam and today due to their selfless efforts the classical dance arts forms of TamilNadu are popular all over the worldas Bharata Natyam. There would not have been any Bharata Natyam at all without the efforts of these legends.
In Andhra region such efforts were not initiated by the artists of that era. Those who ever are a little bit interested also didn’t take up the movement ahead due to various problems which they didn’t like to face. Even though it was a little bit late, legends like late Annabattula BuliVenkata Ratnam, late Dr Nataraja Ramakrishna took attentiveness in organizing meetings, discussions, performances with the living Nattuva Mela artists of those times. Their restless efforts resulted in keeping this art form alive. In 1970 on 22nd and 23rd August, in the Nava Bharata Gurukulam of Rajahmundry under the aegis of Sangeetha Nataka Academy of Andhra Pradesh a new syllabus for this dance form was prepared and named as Andhra Natyam. The name was approved by the legend artists of that era, not a single person.
Some of the important items from the dances used to be performed by the female danseuses in various traditions of undivided Andhra region like Temple tradition, Court tradition, Parijatha tradition, were selected and little bit changes were done according to the present conditions of the stage and theatre; then a systematic syllabus was prepared to learn and practice the same; then only it was named as Andhra Natyam. After that this syllabus was integrated with the education department and Certificate courses and Diploma courses were introduced. Gradually this was introduced in the universities at the post graduate levels also and M.A. courses and Ph.D. courses also were introduced.
Any traditional dance can become perpetual with the popularity in the general public, support of the government, interest of non-governmental organizations and encouragement to the artists, especially to the talented youth.
