Preethika Pavirala, who after successfully performing her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham at the Ravindra Bharathi recently, is now excited to embark on her higher studies at Stanford University. Guru Pasumarthi Mruthyumjaya of Shri Akhila Bharata Kuchipudi Natya Kala Mandali chiselled Preethika for the Big Day, after she relocated to India in 2019. The young dancer embarked on her Kuchipudi dance journey at the age of seven in Houston, Texas, under the tutelage of Guru Raghava Vedantam of Vedantam Kalakshetram.
Her parents Deepika and Atchyuth Pavirala always ensured that she remained close to her roots whether this was through Kuchipudi, Carnatic Music, Chinmaya Mission, or Gita Chanting and Telugu competitions. In a bid to preserve culture, Preethika founded the Vaitalika Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to sustaining South Asian Arts and reconnecting individuals with their ancestral heritage. The youngster launched the Foundation to provide weekly Kuchipudi and Sangeetham classes for enthusiastic underprivileged children and support rural women artisans in communities like Cherial, fostering cultural awareness and creating opportunities.
As the Head Girl of Sreenidhi International School, and the Youth Ambassador of Telangana’s WeHub, Preethika works to enhance entrepreneurship opportunities amongst the youth and women.
Among the seven dance items that Preethika presented at the Kuchipudi Rangapravesham, four choreographies were by the legend Late Padma Bhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, two by her Guru, Pasumarthi Mruthyumjaya and one by Late Vempati Ravi Shankar. She began the evening’s presentation with a composition of Sri Swathi Thirunal, ‘Paripaahi Ganadhipa’, in Saaveri Ragam and Adi Talam, showcasing of what was to follow. Next on the list was Sri BLN Chary’s ‘Poorva Rangam’, in Ragamalika and Adi Talam. The other choreographed pieces of Dr. Chinna Satyam were Sri Annamaacharya’s composition, ‘Kulukaka Nadavaro’, Oothukkaadu Venkata Subbaya Iyer’s composition, ‘Marakatha Manimaya Chela’, Sri Devulapalli Krishna Sastri’s ‘Siva Stuthi’, which was well appreciated by the audience.
For the special day, her Guru, Pasumarthi Mruthyumjaya chose a composition of Sri Vedantam Paravateesam’s ‘Siddhendra Sabdam’, tuned in Mohana Ragam and Misra Chapu Talam. The last piece of the evening was Thillana, of Patnam Subramanya Iyer, in Faraz Ragam and Adi Talam. In both the compositions choreographed by her Guru, Preethika had his stamp of excellence. The young girl is immensely grateful to her Gurus for their guidance over the past 11 years and to her parents for their unwavering support.
Preethika was supported by Pasumarthi Mruthumjaya on Nattuvangam, DSV Sastry on Vocals, K. Rajagopalacharya on Mridangam, R. Dinakar on Violin, VBS Murali on Flute, Sai Prasad on Veena and D. Jayakumar Acharya on Percussions.