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{{Short description|Kuchipudi Dancer Natya Garuvu}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alekhya Punjala
| birth_name =
| alias =
| image = Alekhya Punjala in Rudrama Dance Ballet at Telangana Formation Day Celebrations in Ravindra Bharathi (02.06.2017) 01.jpg
| caption = Alekhya Punjala as Rudrama Devi in a Kuchupidi performance
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1962|04|09}}
| birth_place = [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| parents =
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation = [[Kuchipudi]] and [[Bharatanatyam]] dancer, Dance teacher and choreographer
| known for =
| awards = [[Padma Shri]]<br/>[[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]<br/>[[Hamsa Award]]
}}
'''Alekhya Punjala''' is an [[Indian classical dance]]r, choreographer and dance teacher from [[Telangana]]. She is an exponent in [[Kuchipudi]] and [[Bharatanatyam]]. She has received the Ugadi Vishishtha Award and the [[Hamsa Award]] from the [[Andhra Pradesh government]]. She received the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for Kuchipudi in 2011. She has also been awarded the [[Padma Shri]] by the Government of India.

==Biography==
Alekhya was born on 9 April 1962, in [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]], India.<ref name="eoibudapest">{{cite web |title=Amrita Sher-Gil Cultural Centre, Budapest, Hungary |url=https://www.eoibudapest.gov.in/ascc/news_detail/?newsid=208 |website=www.eoibudapest.gov.in |publisher=[[Government of India]]}}</ref> Her husband P. Vinay Kumar is a surgeon-gastroenterologist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Swati |date=2014-11-22 |title=A Love Story Directed by Friends |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2014/Nov/22/2014-685443.html |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=2021-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707155138/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2014/nov/22/2014-685443.html |url-status=live }}</ref> They married in 1982 and the couple has two sons, Sashwath Punjala and Devansh Punjala.<ref>{{cite news |title=The danseuse as a teacher |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/The-danseuse-as-a-teacher/article16183663.ece |work=The Hindu |date=3 July 2010 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==Career==
Alekhya Punjala is a [[Kuchipudi]] and [[Bharatanatyam]] dancer from [[Telangana]]. She began her dance studies at the age of four while studying in a [[Montessori education|Montessori]] school in [[Hyderabad]], under Dayal Sharan, the dance teacher of the school.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Devoted to dance |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/137155/devoted-dance.html |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> She said that Dayal intended to teach her [[Odissi]] and [[Kathak]], but she became interested in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alekhya's passion for tradition |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/alekhyas-passion-for-tradition/article7633331.ece |work=The Hindu |date=10 September 2015 |language=en-IN |archive-date=14 May 2019 |access-date=15 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514125528/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/alekhyas-passion-for-tradition/article7633331.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Indian Express2">{{cite news |last1=Chakravorty |first1=Reshmi |title=Dr Alekhya Punjala appointed chairperson of Telangana Sangeetha Nataka Academy |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2024/Aug/01/dr-alekhya-punjala-appointed-chairperson-of-telangana-sangeetha-nataka-academy |work=The New Indian Express |date=1 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Later, she trained in Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam under [[Uma Rama Rao]], and in abhinaya (acting) under Guru Pashumarthi Krishnamurthy.<ref name="eoibudapest"/> She has been performing classical dance since her arangetram (first stage performance) in 1977, which was on the occasion of silver jubilee celebrations of the [[Indian National Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Get Inspired by Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam Dancer Prof. Alekhya Punjala |url=https://stories.workmob.com/prof-alekhya-punjala-arts-entertainment |website=stories.workmob.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Scholar of abhinaya |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/scholar-of-abhinaya/article2514633.ece |work=The Hindu |date=6 October 2011 |language=en-IN |archive-date=30 December 2024 |access-date=15 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230163739/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/scholar-of-abhinaya/article2514633.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

Alekhya holds a bachelor's degree in English literature, psychology, and philosophy; a master's degree in dance (Bharatanatyam) from [[Osmania University]]; and a master's degree in ancient Indian history, culture, and archaeology.<ref name="Indian Express">{{cite news |last1=Chakravorty |first1=Reshmi |title=I am rearing ahead in full speed: Kuchipudi dance exponent Dr Alekhya Punjala |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2022/Aug/24/i-am-rearing-aheadin-full-speedkuchipudi-dance-exponent-dr-alekhya-punjala-2491005.html |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=24 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Alekhya received her PhD for her study of the acting aspect of Kuchipudi dance, with title ''Kshetrayya Padams and their importance in Abhinaya in Kuchipudi Dance''.<ref name="Indian Express"/><ref name="eoibudapest"/> She was a student at [[Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University]] and later became Professor and Head of the Department of Dance. She then became the university's first woman registrar.<ref name="Indian Express"/><ref name="eoibudapest"/> Later, to focus on teaching and performing, she took voluntary retirement from her position as registrar at the university.<ref name="Indian Express"/>

Alekhya is one of the top ranked artist of [[Doordarshan]] and also a panel member of [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]].<ref name="Hindu" /> In 2024, Alekhya Punjala was appointed as the chairperson of Telangana Sangeetha Nataka Academy.<ref name="Indian Express2"/>

She also runs a dance school called Trishna.<ref name="Hindu" />

==Notable performances==
The 90-minute dance drama depicting [[Mandodari]], the wife of [[Ravana]], performed on the sixth day of Kalasagaram's annual festival, was noted.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alekhya retells Ravana's Mandodari's dilemma |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/telangana/alekhya-retells-ravanas-mandodaris-dilemma-1844692 |work=www.deccanchronicle.com |date=6 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Her dance performance as [[Rudrama Devi]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Dance like a warrior |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/dance-drama-rudramma-devi/article7611397.ece |work=The Hindu |date=3 September 2015 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref name="Hindu">{{cite news |last1=Srihari |first1=Gudipoodi |title=Alekhya Punjala:The Rudrama of dance |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/the-hindu-friday-review-telangana/article30535281.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=10 January 2020 |language=en-IN |archive-date=4 March 2020 |access-date=15 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304194348/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/the-hindu-friday-review-telangana/article30535281.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Dushala]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jaffer |first1=Askari |title=The implicit truth! |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/featured/women/the-implicit-truth-837097 |work=www.thehansindia.com |date=12 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref> and [[Chakali Ilamma]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Chakali Ailamma to come to life on Sept 10 |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/chakali-ailamma-to-come-to-life-on-sept-10-905090 |work=www.thehansindia.com |date=7 September 2024 |language=en}}</ref> are also noteworthy. She has performed many works in Kuchipudi dance form, including [[Annamacharya]] [[Kirtan]]s, poems of [[Kshetrayya]], works of [[Tyagaraja|Thyagaraja]], [[Narayana Teertha]], [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s works, and also choreographed on themes such as 'Bhakti Movement in Dance'.<ref name="Hindu"/>

==Awards and honors==
Alekhya is a recipient of the Pratibha Rajiv Puraskar (2009), Ugadi Vishishtha Award (2002) and the [[Hamsa Award]] from the [[Andhra Pradesh government]].<ref name="Indian Express"/> She received the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for Kuchipudi in 2011.<ref name="eoibudapest"/> In 2015 she received the Telangana State Award in arts.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-05-31 |title=KCR announces Telangana State Awards |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150531/nation-current-affairs/article/kcr-announces-telangana-state-awards |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=www.deccanchronicle.com |language=en}}</ref> She has also been awarded the [[Padma Shri]] by the Government of India.<ref name="Indian Express3">{{cite news |last1=Tiwari |first1=Reshmi Chakravorty , Mayank |title=Magic of dance |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/2023/Apr/29/magic-ofdance-2570363.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=29 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

At a function held to mark the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence, Alekhya Punjala was honoured by then Telangana Chief Minister [[K. Chandrashekar Rao]] for her contributions to the field of dance.<ref name="Indian Express"/> The Sahitya Peetha of Andhra Pradesh honored her with the title of "Abhinaya Tapaswini".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Swati |title=A Stunning Diversion in Dance |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2014/Oct/18/a-stunning-diversion-in-dance-673112.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=18 October 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Punjala, Alekhya}}
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Kuchipudi dancers]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian female classical dancers]]
[[Category:People from Hyderabad, India]]

Alekhya Punjala - Revision history

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