Kuchipudi Dance Exponent Sobha Naidu Passes Away in Hyderabad

Kuchipudi dance exponent Shobha Naidu passed away early on Wednesday at a private hospital in Hyderabad. Naidu was admitted in hospital with neurological illness and undergoing treatment for the past four days, family members said.

Born in 1956 at Anakapalli in Andhra Pradesh, Naidu was among the foremost Kuchipudi dancers of India and an outstanding disciple of the renowned master Vempati Chinna Satyam. She mastered the technique of Kuchipudi and began dancing lead roles in dance-dramas at a young age.

She has performed with her guru’s troupe all over the country and abroad, excelling in the roles of Satyabhama and Padmavati. She is also an excellent solo dancer. She also choreographed several dance-dramas. She had given stage performances in the US, UK, Dubai, Turley, Hongkong, Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba.

Condolences have been pouring in on social media over her death. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao recalled that Naidu was an outstanding exponent of the Kuchipudi dance. The CM conveyed his condolences to members of the bereaved family. Several celebs from the dance community have been expressing their grief over her demise.

Naidu was awarded the civilian honour of Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2001. In 1991, she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi award and before that she was awarded the title of ‘Nritya Choodamani’ by the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha of Madras. She also served as the Principal for the 40 year old Kuchipudi Art Academy, Hyderabad and trained more than 1,500 students from India and abroad.

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