‘She Was Electrifying’: India Mourns The Loss Of Trailblazing Classical Dancer Yamini Krishnamurthy

The Indian classical dance community is mourning the loss of an iconic figure, Yamini Krishnamurti, who passed away at the age of 83 at Apollo Hospital in Delhi after a prolonged illness. Renowned for her pioneering work in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, as well as her expertise in Odissi, Krishnamurti leaves behind a legacy that has inspired countless dancers.

Her passing has deeply affected the dance community, with many expressing shock and sorrow. Her absence is profoundly felt by fellow artists, students, and admirers who were captivated by her performances over the years.

“She’s the reason why I am dancing,” shared Geeta Chandran, a prominent Bharatanatyam dancer, with indianexpress.com. She reminisced about Krishnamurti’s dynamic stage presence. “She was electrifying. She was iconic. I mean, anybody who saw her dance could never forget it,” Chandran said. “The statement she made with her personal take on the dance and personally how the energy that she invested, that was just mind-blowing.”

Shinjini Kulkarni, granddaughter of Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj, echoed these sentiments. “She had a bewitching personality on stage with her height and the dynamism with which she performed,” Kulkarni recalled. “I remember one of the speeches that she was giving and she said that, ‘I came on the stage with the intention of attacking like a tigress.’ And she did that every time.”

Krishnamurti’s journey in dance began at a young age, influenced by the mystical Thillai Natarajah Temple near her childhood home in Chidambaram. Her father, a scholar with a deep interest in the arts, supported her uninterrupted learning. She trained under several esteemed gurus, including a brief period at Kalakshetra under Rukmini Devi Arundale.