Guru Kala Krishna is a well-known face in the world of dance. An expert in Abhinaya and more popular for his role as Satyabhama, Guru Kala Krishna garu is a reservoir of Indian Cultural Heritage. An expert in Andhra Natyam and Perini, Guru Kala Krishna garu was awarded the Vishishta Puraskaram by Potti Sree Ramulu Telugu University for the year 2019. He received this great honour from the hands of the Vice President Sri M Venkaiah Naidu at Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University on 12 December 2021. The other distinguished guests included Shri Mohammed Ali garu, Honourable Home Minister of Telangana state, Shri Vinod Kumar garu, Vice Chairman – Telangana State Planning Commission, Shri Kishan Rao garu, Vice Chancellor – PSTU and Shri Bhattu Ramesh, Registrar – PSTU.
The Andhra Natyam and Perini exponent has proved that with determination and hard work an ordinary person from a remote village of Kallepalli, in Karimnagar District of Telangana too can reach peaks. Trained by stalwarts like Padma Shri Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna and other temple dancers, who taught him different extraordinary art forms of the courts of Kings and Temples in the form of Nava Janardhanam, Ashtadikpalaka Nrityam, Bali Haranam, Navasandhi and many others. Today, many youngsters are learning these great art forms from him in Hyderabad Central University, Telugu University and Hari Hara Nritya Niketan.
It must be pointed out that Guru Kala Krishna garu is the only dancer in the state who knows the dance form Nava Janardanam, which belongs to the Kalapam style of dance which was performed in the nine Janardana temples of East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. It is said that it was performed for nine continuous nights at different places or at one place for nine nights. Guru Kala Krishna garu helped preserve this art form in the archives of National Archaeological Society, Mumbai, Sangeetha Nataka Academy, New Delhi and a documentary film on this art form won the Golden Nandi award by the Government of A.P.
Etching his name in golden letters in dance history, Guru Kala Krishna’s great contribution as Nattuvangist for Perini Tandava performances, and Lasya tradition of Perini are commendable. Natyahasini congratulates Guru Kala Krishna garu on his recent honour.