Smt. Gaddam Padmaja Reddy
Smt. Gaddam Padmaja Reddy, the famous Kuchipudi dancer, and Guru who is credited with bringing back the Kakatiyam dance style received the Padma Shri.
Who is Smt. Gaddam Padmaja Reddy?
Reddy, a radiologist, and Swarajyalakshmi welcomed Padmaja Reddy into the world on January 1, 1967, in Pamarru, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. When she was a child, her parents relocated to Hyderabad for employment. She was raised by her grandparents in Pamarru. At the age of eight, she later moved to Hyderabad. She had family in Yousufguda. She was raised in a middle-class household. After attending St. Theresa School, she continued her education at Reddy College. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Reddy had dance instruction from her grandfather when she was a young child while living with her grandparents. She started her training in a school established by Kuchipudi dancer Shobha Naidu after relocating to Hyderabad. Due to her portrayals of Satyabhama and Rudrama Devi, she rose to prominence as a Kuchipudi dancer. She stated in an interview that she preferred performing on an original subject to the frequently seen legendary tales. She created and performed various Kuchipudi dance genres, including the ballets Bruna Hatyalu, Jagruthi, Vajra Bharati, Namaste India, and Season of Flowers, that raise awareness of current social issues.
