ABOUT
Sri Kilambi Krishnamachary and Vinjamuri Sriranga Rukmini Devi gave birth to Ms.Kilambi Rajakumari born on 12.12.1945 at Madras who has become an eminent classical dancer during the period 1950 to 1970.
At the age of 3, Ms.Rajakumari made steps for any song on her own without the guidance of any master using her small bells. By seeing her interest her father Sri.K.Krishnamachary was also an actor in dramas joined her in dance class. She was also trained in Light classical dance by Guru Bala Ramaiah Garu. Her performances made the dance spellbound and took the audience to another world with great applause. Kilambi Rajakumari’s major achievements are the Choreography and presentation of the Ballets ‘Kurathi dance’,‘Flower dance’ etc. Her greatness lies in her total dedication to the exacting genre with a classical base. She learned ‘Peacock Dance’, ‘Snake dance’, ‘Kanjari dance’, ‘Candles dance’, and ‘Folk dance’. Ms. Rajakumari gave many performances in erstwhile Madras (now Chennai). Her performances won accolades not only in the motherland but also all around India. She emerged as an independent performer.
When there was a program arranged in Rasika Ranjini Sabha in Mylapore, Madras, Guru Tiruchendur Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai happened to see her performance and pleased to teach her Bharatanatyam. She learned for five years with her Guru Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai and gave several performances in Madras and Andhra Pradesh. In one such performances Bollywood actress, Waheeda Rehman saw her performance and started learning Bharatanatyam dance under the teaching of Guru Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai. Kilambi Rajakumari tide bells to Ms. Waheeda Rehman for her journey in Madras. Ms.Kilambi Rajakumari taught dance lessons to younger Students at her institute called ‘Kala Niketan’ in Hyderabad. She was awarded the Sangeetha Nataka Academy scholarship and also performed with Smt.Mrilani Sarabhai one of the exponents in Bharatanatyam in ‘Darpana Institute’, Ahmedabad. She has been called as ‘Vyjayanthimala of Andhra Pradesh’. When her father Sri. Krishnamacharya was working as Zilla Judge in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh, she gave dance program Kuchipudi Pithamaha Sri. Vedantham Laxminarayana Sastry Garu saw her performance. She learned Kuchipudi dance under the guidance of Sri.Vedantham L.Sastry. She performed solo type of dancing in Kuchipudi.
After learning Kuchipudi for five years Ms.Kilamabi Rajakumari gave nearly about 300 performances on all occasions all over India. ’Srirama Paattabhisekam’, ’Manduga Sabdham’, ‘Padhavarnam’,’Thillanas’, ‘Tharangams’, ‘Bhamakalapam’, and ‘Golla Kalapam’, are some of the few items which she performed. In Hyderabad, when Doordarshan was inaugurated in 1965, Kilambi Rajakumari performed the Kuchipudi dance on the Inaugural day. She was awarded about 200 gold medals, 300 silver medals, and 200 silver cups and mementos. She gave performances in front of Sri.P.V.Narasimha Rao(former P.M), Sri. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy(former President) and Sri.Pattabi Sitaramaiah(former Minister of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh) and Smt. Indira Gandhi( former P.M. of India) and many more dignitaries. She has been honored with many titles like ‘Natya Mayuri’, ‘Narthaki Siromani’, ‘Natya Bharathi’, ’Natya Visaradha’. Dr.Sri.Ponangi Rama Appa Rao presented ‘Natya Sastram’ book written by him to Ms.Kilambi Rajakumari as a mark of appreciation.
MS.Kilambi Rajakumari was also an exemplary woman not only in dances but also in Carnatic music. She started her music career at the age of five in Madras. She performed in All India Radio, Madras. She learned Carnatic Music under the aegis of Sri. Ankaiah. She also learned Light Classical Music like ‘Astapadulu’, ‘Narayana Theertha Tharangalu’, Ramadasu Keerthanas’ under the aegis of Guru Manda Bala Rama Sharma Garu.
Kilambi Rajakumari was a good scriptwriter for dramas in her college days. She wrote ‘Aswagoshudu’, ‘Gautama Buddha’, ‘Radhakrishna’,’ Sagaramandhanam’, ’Anarkali’ and won the best scriptwriter award in inter-college competitions.
In her childhood, she acted in a few Telugu films also to name a few:
1. Chinnakodalu
2. Chinnamma Kadha
3. Naa Illu
4. Brathukutheruvu
5. Peddamanushulu
PERSONAL LIFE: Ms.Kilambi Rajakumari studied in Raja Bahadur Venkat Ranga Reddy College (R.B.V.R.R.Women college) and graduated B.Sc and mastered in M.A (Telugu) from Osmania University. She was married in 1970 and after ten years on June 18th 1981, at the age of 36 while delivering a baby she attained Acharyan Thiruvadigal (Heavenly Abode) and became a star in the sky.
ACHIEVEMENTS
GALLERY
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