Kuchipudi exponents confirm denial of Ravindra Bharati

Hyderabad , May 18, 2015: World famous Kuchipudi exponents Raja Reddy and Radha Reddy confirmed that they did not get permission to perform their annual Kuchipudi show at Ravindra Bharati this year. "Every year, we used to perform in December or January.This year also, we applied for permission to perform at Ravindra Bharati and met the officials. They said they would confirm the dates but ultimately they did not give us the auditorium," the couple said reacting to media reports. "However, we did not complain to any one on the issue, " they said ,adding that they performed at some other auditorium. The couple denied the reports that TRS president K.Chandrasekhara Rao had offered them party ticket to contest assembly election in 2014. "There is no truth in that report," Raja Reddy and Radha Reddy said. "We were offered party tickets by other parties in the past. But we did not show interest as our lives are dedicated for Kuchipudi dance only." They however hastened to add that Kuchipudi dance form is universal and belonged to all."It is not just the dance form of Andhra Pradesh. Golkonda king Tanisha and Kakatiya rulers also patronized the dance form."