Sandhya Raju’s Natyam to be screened at Goa Festival

At the ongoing 52nd International Film Festival being held in Goa from November 20 to November 28, the only Telugu film to be screened at the prestigious festival is Kuchipudi dancer Sandhya Raju’s ‘Natyam’, which was released in October last week. Disciple of Kuchipudi doyen, Late Padma Bhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, Sandhya Raju, who helms the character of Sitara, a classical dancer, in Natyam, is a tribute to India’s rich heritage. The director and actor had shown the film to Vice President Venkaiah Naidu at Delhi, who appreciated the movie.

Natyam written, edited, filmed and directed by newbie Revanth Korukonda and produced by Sandhya Raju under the banner of Nishrinkala Films, is set in dance village Natyam, where the lead protagonist attempts to revive her Guru’s lost work of art and finds out the power and meaning of Indian Classical Dance. She realises that dance means telling a story leaving a lasting impression.

Sandhya Raju, who founded the Nishrinkala Dance Academy in Hyderabad to impart her knowledge to desiring students, made her acting debut in a Malayalam movie, Careful, in 2017. Earlier, she had also acted in a short film with the same title, Natyam. Born to Ramco Industries Chairman, P. R. Venkatrama Raja, Sandhya married Rama Raju, son of Satyam Ramalinga Raju.

The film cast also includes Baby Devina, Kamal Kamaraju, Rohit Behal, Adithya Menon, Subhalekha Sudhakar, Bhanupriya, Rukmini Vijayakumar and Hyper Aadi.