MaricelaHamilton: adding info

2026-01-12T13:56:03Z

adding info

New page

{{Short description|Indian Kuchipudi exponent}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Swathi Somnath
| image = Swathi Somnath in October 2020 2.png
| caption = Swathi in October 2020
| birth_name = Doosi Swathi
| birth_place = [[Chakradharpur]], [[Bihar]] (now in [[Jharkhand]]), India
| education = {{ubl
| [[Master's degree]] ([[Central University of Hyderabad]])
| [[Master of Philosophy]]
}}
| occupation = Kuchipudi dancer
| known_for = Ballet based on [[Kama Sutra]]
| awards = [[Kala Ratna]]
}}

'''Swathi Somnath''' (born '''Doosi Swathi''')<ref name=":4">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAUGtBC0Hl0 |title=శ్రీకాకుళంలో ఆ 12 ఎకరాలు ఎలా వచ్చాయి?-Classical Dancer Swathi Somanath {{!}}{{!}} A Candid Conversation |date=25 September 2022 |last=Swapna |type=Videotape |language=te |publisher=iDream Telugu Movies |trans-title=How did those 12 acres come in Srikakulam?-Classical Dancer Swathi Somanath {{!}}{{!}} A Candid Conversation |access-date=14 December 2022}}</ref> is an Indian [[Kuchipudi]] exponent and dance teacher from the state of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. She performed a dance ballet based on [[Kama Sutra]], Hindu literature on erotic love, through which she gained recognition. She received [[Kala Ratna]] award in 2006. She established Nritya Bharathi in [[Hyderabad]] and Sampradayam Dance and Music Centre in [[Srikakulam district]].

== Personal life ==
Swathi was born to Somnath, an [[Indian Railways]] employee, and Lakshmi in [[Chakradharpur]], Bihar (now in [[Jharkhand]]) in a [[Hindu]] [[Brahmin]]<ref name=":7">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0705iSe9vo&t=153 |title=Kuchipudi Dancer Swathi Somnath {{!}}{{!}} Open Heart With RK {{!}}{{!}} Season:1-Episode:17 {{!}}{{!}} 07.02.2010 {{!}}{{!}} #OHRK |date=5 April 2021 |last=Vemuri |first=Radhakrishna |type=Videotape |language=te |publisher=[[ABN Andhra Jyothi]] |author-link=Vemuri Radhakrishna}}</ref> family.{{Efn|''[[The Hindu]]'' reported that Swathi was born and brought up at Doosi Agraharam, [[Srikakulam district]], Andhra Pradesh.<ref name=":0" /> However, Bnim stated she was born in [[Bihar]].<ref name=":1" />}}<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Bnim |author-link=Bnim |date=23 October 2014 |title="స్వాతి సోమనాథ్" – శింజారవం |trans-title=Swathi Somnath |url=https://www.acchamgatelugu.com/2014/10/swathi-somanath-shinjaravam.html |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=acchamgatelugu.com}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crGfdeuCxac |title=Vijetha {{!}}{{!}} Swathi Somanath |date=28 October 2020 |type=Videotape |language=te |publisher=[[DD Yadagiri]] |access-date=14 December 2022}}</ref> Her family hails from Doosi Agraharam, [[Srikakulam district]].<ref name=":1" /> She has one brother who also works in Indian Railways. She grew up in [[West Bengal]] before moving to Hyderabad.<ref name=":7" /> She completed her education with a [[Master's degree]] in Kuchipudi from [[Central University of Hyderabad]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vishwanath |first=Narayana |date=11 January 2014 |title=Representing The Art of Perfection |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2014/jan/11/Representing-The-Art-of-Perfection-563032.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210153401/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2014/jan/11/Representing-The-Art-of-Perfection-563032.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2022 |access-date=12 December 2022 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> and [[Master of Philosophy]] in English Literature.<ref name=":1" /> {{As of|2020|10}}, she is pursuing [[Ph.D]] in English Literature from [[Osmania University]].<ref name=":3" /> She married Chevella Ravi Kumar, a film director in [[Telugu cinema]].<ref name=":7" />

== Kuchipudi dance ==
Swathi performed [[Banjara|Lambadi dance]] during her school days.<ref name=":3" /> She started learning dance when she was 11 year old<ref name=":4" /> and later learned Kuchipudi and [[Bharatanatyam]] at {{Interlanguage link|Sumathi Kaushal|te|సుమతీ కౌశల్}} for four years at a young age. After completing [[Secondary School Certificate|secondary school]], she debuted in August 1980 on stage in [[Ravindra Bharathi]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> Following her father's death in 1981,<ref name=":3" /> she continued her performances to run her house financially, given her family was in [[lower middle class]],<ref name=":3" /> and continued her further education simultaneously.<ref name=":1" /> Shortly thereafter, she said, she formed her own [[orchestra]] at the age of 16 and started performance on her own. In the memory of her father, she changed her last name to his name, Somnath.<ref name=":7" />

Her ballet ''Vatsayani Kamasutra'', based on [[Vātsyāyana]]'s erotic love Hindu literature, [[Kama Sutra]], garnered her recognition. It was well received among [[rasika]]s (audience of [[Indian classical music]]) and was criticized by conservative dancers citing the depiction of [[sringara]] (erotic love) on the stage.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Vishwanath |first=Narayana |date=25 November 2013 |title=Saving the sanctity of Kuchipudi |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2013/nov/25/saving-the-sanctity-of-kuchipudi-541190.html |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> [[Bnim]] penned the script.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramakrishna |first=Lakshmi |date=22 March 2019 |title=Artist- writer Bnim: Canvas that's vast and wide |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/the-hindu-friday-review-hyderabad-tirupati-visakhapatnam-vijayawada-ongole/article26607292.ece |access-date=13 December 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

She established a dance academy Nritya Bharathi in Hyderabad in 1990s.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> In 2015, the [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]] allocated {{Convert|12-16|acre|m2}}{{Efn|''The Hindu'' reported the allotment as {{convert|16|acre|m2}},<ref name=":6" /> ''[[Sakshi (newspaper)|Sakshi]]'' reported {{convert|13|acre|m2}}.<ref name=":5" /> In an interview, Swathi said it was {{convert|12|acre|m2}}.<ref name=":4" />}} in Kallepalli village near [[Srikakulam]] supporting her to set up a cultural centre to teach classical music and dance. Andhra Pradesh Praja Natyamandali among others protested the government's move stating that she was not brought up in Srikakulam district and suggested alternate native dancers be considered for the land allotment.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=29 January 2016 |title=Cultural centre to come up at Kallepalli |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/Cultural-centre-to-come-up-at-Kallepalli/article14028240.ece |access-date=12 December 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=27 September 2015 |title=ఎందుకంత ప్రేమ |trans-title=Why so much love |url=https://www.sakshi.com/news/andhra-pradesh/swati-somnath-great-international-ballerina-279445 |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=[[Sakshi (newspaper)|Sakshi]] |language=te}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=4 July 2015 |title=Allocation of land to Kuchipudi dancer opposed |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/allocation-of-land-to-kuchipudi-dancer-opposed/article7387730.ece |access-date=13 December 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She eventually established her [[gurukula]] academy, Sampradayam Dance and Music Centre and is serving as its director in addition to teaching Kuchipudi.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 January 2022 |title=దృశ్య కావ్యం.. నృత్య రూపకం |trans-title=Visual poetry.. Dance metaphor |url=https://www.eenadu.net/telugu-news/districts/Srikakulam/10/122005412 |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=[[Eenadu]] |language=te}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> According to her, the construction cost of the academy was {{INRConvert|5|c|lk=on}}. The foundation stone was laid on 15 August 2015, on [[Indian Independence Day]]. The institution is affiliated to [[Sri Venkateswara University]], [[Tirupati]] and offers certificate courses to students who completed their secondary schooling.<ref name=:4 />

She performed in over 100 ballets, some of which include ''Draupadi'' based on [[Draupadi]], ''Kama To Moksha'' based on ''[[Kama Sutra]]'', ''Hindutva'', ''Sahrnam Govindam'', ''Soundarya Darshana'' based on the life of [[Ramanuja]], ''Sarvagnya Shankara'' based on the life of [[Adi Shankara]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />

In an interview with [[DD Yadagiri]], she said she also learned [[Odissi]] classical dance although limited to basics.<ref name=":3" />

== Other work ==
She has worked as a member of [[Central Board of Film Certification]] and Central Audition Board for Kuchipudi, dance, New Delhi. In addition, she also serves as the principal of College of Music and Dance, Hyderabad.<ref name=":2" />

== Awards ==
Swathi was conferred with [[Kala Ratna]] award in 2006 by the government of [[united Andhra Pradesh]] for her contributions to Kuchipudi.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 2006 |title=Hamsa awards are now Kalaratna |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh//article58041585.ece |access-date=12 December 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Artists from Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:People from Srikakulam district]]
[[Category:Kuchipudi dancers]]
[[Category:Indian female classical dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women artists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women artists]]
[[Category:Dancers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:University of Hyderabad alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kala Ratna]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:Dancers from Telangana]]
[[Category:Indian dance teachers]]
[[Category:Teachers of Indian classical dance]]

Swathi Somnath - Revision history

MaricelaHamilton: adding info