Bharatnatyam dancer Sathyanarayana Raju still soars at 60

Sathyanarayana Raju’s Shasti Varna Chakra commemorating 60 dance recitals this year, will be held on January 6, 2026. The artiste, who was born in 1965, and turns 60 in January, says, “This is a gesture of gratitude to my gurus — Subhadra Prabhu, S Narmada and Maya Rao. I began on January 6, 2025, aiming to complete 60 performances within a year, and I have accomplished this by presenting five performances every month.”

Forging a path

Though Sathyanarayana has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Karnataka Kalashree 2016-17 by Karnataka Sangeetha Nrithya Academy, his path to the stage was a rocky one as the dance world was not too inclusive in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

“The movie Siri Siri Muvva came out when I was in middle school and I was mesmerised by actor Jayapradha’s dance routines. That was when I told myself I would make this dream of mine come true,” he says, adding that he would pull on trousers over his dance costume to avoid his father’s anger. “My mother was quite supportive of my passion and I have used quite a few of her saris to create my outfits. Unfortunately, she never had a chance to see me perform.” 

When he wanted to celebrate 40 years of his journey, Sathyanarayana organised Rasaabhinaya, an all-male classical dance festival helmed by his Bengaluru-based dance school Samskruthi. “As an ardent devotee of dance, I believed there would be others like me who also wanted to showcase their hard work and creativity; this prompted me to call for an all-male ensemble,” recalls Sathyanarayana.

Dancer Sathyanarayana Raju
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

At his recent 55th performance hosted by Aishwarya Karthik and Gayatri of the Silambam Academy of Fine Arts and Silambam, both dance institutions in the city, Sathyanarayana who received a standing ovation, said it was refreshing to witness the changed mindset of present times.

“It is wonderful to see so many male dancers take to the stage. I am convinced the advancement of the arts is dependent on institutions that encourage budding performers from economically weaker sections of society to create an inclusive world of performing arts,” he said, adding how his gurus were instrumental in his progress and success.

Still going strong

Explaining why he took up the ‘Ashtaragamalika Varna’ as his main piece, Sathyanarayana, who first learnt of it from Narmada, says, “This varna remains a highly respected piece in the Bharatanatyam repertoire as it demonstrates the virtuosity and deep artistry brought out by composers known as the Tanjore Quartet comprising Ponnayya, Chinnayya, Shivanandam and Vadivelu.”

“The lyrics ‘Saami Ninne Kori’ depicting the nayika’s love for Lord Shiva evolve from a playful perception to a mature, deep spiritual union that unfolds in eight ragas, while the rich sancharis (descriptive dance passages) in its poetic depth and intricate rhythms offer a serene Bhakti Bhava experience.”

According to Sathyanarayana, it took him three years to hone this piece to Narmada’s satisfaction. “I wish she was alive to see me execute this dance to which she had lent her signature style, though it was originally choreographed by Kitappa Pillai. This varna sails on eight ragas, and is integrated with aesthetic footwork with eight jathis in Rupaka tala.”   

Accompanying Sathyanarayana will be vocalist Vasudha Balakrishna, Bharatha Narayan on the nattuvanga, mridangist Balakrishna SV and flautist Karthik Sathavalli.

Natyagamya and Samskruthi with present the 60th performance of the Shasti Varna Chakra by Sathyanarayana Raju at Meenakshi Rangamancha Auditorium, Doddakalasandra, Kanakapura Main Road on January 6, 2026, at 6pm. Entry free and open to all.