K P Kittapa

The video is an excerpt of a documentation by the Sangeet Natak Akademi of the achievements of K.P. Kittappa Pillai (1913-1999) and includes an interview with the great maestro himself conducted in Tamil by Sudharani Raghupathy. In the interview Kittappa gives the historical background of his family and their contribution to the development of Bharatanatyam.The film also includes materials from the archives of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. Guru Kittappa was the fifth generation descendant of the revered Thanjavur Quartet family. The Thanjavur Quartet or Tanjore Quartet consisted of four brothers, Chinnayya, Ponnayya, Sivanandam and Vadivelu, who are credited with the development of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music.Their contribution to the art of Bharatanatyam includes the codification of adavus (basic steps) and the margam (Bharatanaytam concert format). Guru Kittappa maintained and nurtured the family tradition of teaching, composing and conducting Bharatanatyam.