(A biography of a legend, who is a guru of the present popular gurus, “Nataraaja Hamsa”, “Naatya Praveena”,” Bahukala Kovida”, Srimaan Acharya   P. V. Narasimha Rao)

This article in Telugu is written by his eldest son, “Nrityakala Thapaswi”, “Natyakala Prapoorna”,
Guru P. V. Bharani Shenkar
(National Second Generation Guru for Kuchipudi Tradition)
Honoured by the Central Sangeeth Natak Akademi, New Delhi.

English translation done by his grandson, “Natya Vishaarada”
P. Uday Shenkar,
(A Kuchipudi Exponent)

A message By Guru P. V. Bharani Shenkar

            “ From the memories of my Father telling me certain valuable things in my childhood, from the hearings of discourses given by my Father to his students, from the interview that I had taken that of my Mother recently, I had gathered and realised information, known and unknown, on the legendary life of my Father Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao.

            I have compiled this biography not only as a son, but also as his responsible student, in a pity that in spite of his students being in a very high position, no one took the initiative to write a biography on my father, a legend who had shaped the future of his students into very famous icons and who glorified our Indian Culture as much as he could, as his contribution to the Nation.

            He is one among the Cultural Legends of India. So come let’s join our hands together to review his biography and to glorify his life. I would also request any of his students, who are still alive to take an initiative to recognise him.”

“GURU BRAHMA! GURU VISHNUHU! GURU DEVOU MAHESHWARAHA!
GURU SAAKSHAAT PARAH BRAHMA! TASMAI SREE GURUVEIN NAMAHA!”

"Nataraja Hamsa", "Natya Praveena", "Bahukala Kovida",

Srimaan Acharya P. V. Narasimha Rao

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Life of Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao before 1947:

             Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao was born on 07-10-1927 at Gangavaram Village, Visakhapatnam District to Sri Potnuru Swami Venkata Gopal and Smt. Lakshmi Kanthamma

            In 1942, during his 15th year (in which he studied his 10th standard), Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao frequented Bobbili to learn Harikatha. From 1943 to 1944 he performed Harikathalu in village festivals.

            From 1944 – 1947, he rigorously learnt Bharatanatyam under the guidance of guru Sri B. V. Narasimha Rao, the then District Educational Officer, in Ramachandrapuram A.P., India. Both of them are distant relatives as well. The training that was imparted to Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao was in Gurukul system. Thereon, having chased all obstacles in his path, he achieved a legendary status with the knowledge he extensively acquired over the following decades. This excellence of his can be justified by the words spoken by Sri Bhaatam Sreeraama Murthy, the then Honourable Minister for Industry and Education of Andhra Pradesh, India: “When I had seen Dance and Drama performances of the legends like Sri Sthanam Narasimha Rao and Sri B.V. Narasimha Rao, I wondered if the name of ‘Narasimha’ itself has performing art in it. Now after witnessing this performance of Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao’s troupe, it makes me feel that my thought is indeed true, moreover I feel that I am witnessing a multi talented artiste in Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao himself!”.

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Being the First person who had introduced the Classical Dance Form of Bharatanatyam in

Visakhapatnam, In 1947:

            Sri P.V. Narasimha Rao has the existensive credit of being the First person to introduce the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam, in Visakhapatnam in 1947, by founding his own institution called "Shree Nataraja Hamsa Natya Sangeetha Kalamandir", by training numerous students, and by giving number of performances all over. The planted seeds of Classical Art Forms of Bharatnatyams and Carnatic Music have now grown into a massive trees in Vizag, this fact being well known to the Vizag Connoisseurs.

            The list of gurus who come after Acharya Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao are Sri Mahanthi Venkateshwara Rao , Sri Nataraja Raama Krishna (Presently settled in Hyderabad after his stay in Vizag), Late Sri B.R. Mohan Rao, etc., have given their valuable cultural services to Vizagities and its heartening to know that, even their followers from their own family members and their students have been following their tradition.

Founded the Institution named “Shree Nataraaja Hamsa Naatya Sangeetha Kala Mandir”, in 1947:

             Natyachaarya Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao, had founded this Institution in Visakhapatnam in January 1947. Later, it was named and registered as “S. N. H. Dance and Music College” in 1951 under the presidentship of Late Dr.C.Vyagreshwarudu, a world renowned Orthopaedic Surgeon. From this Institution, Acharya Sri P.V., has trained many students who are in legendary positions now.

            During this period, Chy. Uma Maheshwari (now known as Guru Dr. Uma Rama Rao, Retd. HOD of Kuchipudi Dept. of Telugu University, Hyderabad) and her younger sister Chy. Sumathy (currently known as Dr. Sumathy Koushal in USA, who is also the mother-in-law of renowned film actress Smt. Bhanupriya), were the prime disciples of Archarya Sri P.V.

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            Apart from them, his alumni include renowned doctors like Dr. K. V. Chalapathy Rao (Neuro Surgeon and Retd., Medical College Principal, Kakinaada), Dr. Prabhakar Rao, Dr Rama Krishna Rao, Dr. Bharathi and also Sri Manavaalayya (Retd. Senior Manager in State Bank of India, Vsp.), etc.

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His popularity as the best portrayer of Female Roles:

             During the period of 1947-1952, Achaarya Sri P.V. along with his students gave numerous solo and group performances all over. He was very famous for his portrayal of Female Roles in his Dance and Dramas. Some elders from his students’ community have told me that his portrayal of female roles in recitals like Sri Nandoori Subbarao’s “Enki Viraham”, Sri Thonikella Venkata Rathnam’s “Mokkajonna Thotalo” have mesmerised them and the audience alike with a huge applause.

Glitters of Female Roles by Acharya Sri P.V.Narasimha Rao:

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            Later, Acharya Sri P. V. decided to give less number of Solo Performances and he concentrated on teaching his students with a noble heart to pass on this sacred tradition to his future generations. I find it really fortunate for having the sweet memories of my father’s style when he was training his students in both theory and practicals, in a perfect manner by which I had learnt many techniques of teaching Dance to students. He is a Treasure Chest of Naatya Shastra. Also a Scholar in Carnatic Music. I have been very much inspired by these royal qualities of his, that even today I follow his Ideologies and some principles

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            Currently, in spite of his detoriating physical condition due to oldness, he pays visits as an external examiner and visiting professor for Post Graduation and PhD. Programmes for various Universities like The Indira Performing Art and Music University (Indira Kala-Sangeet Vishwvidyalaya) which is Asia's only University dedicated to Visual and Performing Arts in Madhya Pradesh, Telugu University, Hyd., and also for some Andhra Pradesh Govt.’s Dance and Music Colleges, etc. He is also extensively invited as a panel member of judges for different competitions of various Government and Non-Government National Organisations.

His Marriage in 1952:

            Acharya Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao married Kamalamma on 17-05-1952, with the blessings and the presence of Late Sri Dwaram Venkata Swami Naidu, a very well renowned, legendary Violin Vidwan, Vizianagaram.

            I, Guru Bharani Shenkar was born in 1953. I had taken up Classical Dance as my Family Tradition for the propogation of this Divine Art Form. I was blessed with four brothers and two sisters who are all younger to me.

Acharya Sri P. V.’s Life from 1954 to 1956 in Madras:

            It is in this time when, the renowned film actress, Smt. Bhanumathy Ramakrishna learnt Bharatanatyam under the guidance of Acharya Sri P. V. in Madras. It was during this period when he taught to various eminent personalities from the Film Industry.

            It was a flourishing time for him, when he participated in numerous Dance and Music seminars of reputed Sabhas, in Madras. Due to unavoidable family circumstances, he had to shift permanently to Visakhapatnam, due to my critical sickness in 1956 he later continued the legacy of his Dance College, in Visakhapatnam.

Andhra Pradesh Govt.’s Recognition of S. N. H. Dance and Music College in 1960:

            The Institution, under the name of  “Shree Nataraaja Hamsa Naatya Sangeetha Kala Mandir”  (from January 1947 to 1951) was registered as “S. N. H. Dance and Music College”  in 1951.  It was later recognised by the A.P. Govt., in 1960. In 1962, A. P. Govt.’s Sangeeth Natak Academy gave its affiliation to this College. Having being trained in such a great historical college, many students have achieved the pinnacle in the Classical Field today.

            In the period of 1962-1963, when Sri Mangalampally Baalamurali Krishna (Padma Bhushan Awardee) and Sri Dwaram Bhaavanaaraayana were acting directors of A. P. Sangeeth Natak Academy, they had visited ”S. N. H. Dance and Music College” for general college inspection, on separate incidents. I am very fortunate of having a lasting memory of them having great discussions on the then scenarios of Dance and Music, with my Father, individually.

            Due to my father’s great intellectuality and knowledge, I was very fortunate to meet personally many great legends personally ,who are his friendly scholars such as Late Sri Dwaram Bhaavanaaraayana in Vizag (I have to mention that I am grateful to have performed on stage when he sang for me), and many others in Madras such as Padma Bhushan Dr. Mangalampally Baalamurali Krishna garu, The great poets like Late Sri Sri garu, Late Sri Devulapalli Krishna Sastri garu, eminent film music directors like, Late Sri S. Rajeshwara Rao garu, Late Sri K. V. Mahaadevan garu, etc. My happiness knew no bounds when such legends praised my father’s greatness with me. I am very proud to be born as the eldest son of such a great legend.

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