Renowned Bharatanatyam dancer Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthy has passed away. She took her last breath on Saturday, August 3. She was 84 years old and had been admitted to the ICU at Apollo Hospital for the past 7 months. On Saturday, her manager and secretary, Ganesh, issued a statement confirming her death.
In his statement, Ganesh said, “Dr. Krishnamurthy was struggling with age-related issues and had been in the ICU for the past 7 months. Due to a long history of health problems, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthy was admitted to Apollo Hospital.”
Famous for Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi
Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthy was a master of Indian classical dance, known especially for her expertise in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. She was born on December 20, 1940, in Madanapalle, Madras Presidency, British India. However, she was raised in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. In 1957, Dr. Krishnamurthy began her career as a dancer in Madras. She was honored as the resident dancer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. She was recognized as a leading figure in the Kuchipudi dance style.
Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthy Was Decorated with Three of India’s Highest Honors
Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthy received three of India’s four highest civilian honors. The Government of India awarded her the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth highest honor, in 1968. In 2001, she was conferred with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest honor, and in 2016, she received the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest honor. In addition to these, she received many other prestigious awards in the field of dance. Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthy also wrote her autobiography titled ‘A Passion for Dance,’ which was very well-received by readers.