Kuchipudi, which developed from the Yakshagana tradition, was conceived by Siddhendra Yogi in which century?

The correct answer is 17th century. Kuchipudi, the classical dance of Andhra Pradesh, takes its name from the village of Kuchipudi in the Krishna district, where it developed. Its present form is traditionally credited to Siddhendra Yogi, a Vaishnava poet and saint who lived in the 17th century.

According to tradition, Siddhendra Yogi wrote the dance-drama Bhama Kalapam, which tells the story of Satyabhama, the proud and beautiful wife of Lord Krishna, and her separation from and reunion with him. He taught the dance to the young Brahmin boys of the village of Kuchipudi and asked them to perform it as an offering to Krishna. The families of the village took a vow to perform it, and the tradition passed down through generations. In the beginning, Kuchipudi was performed only by men, who also played the female roles, in the form of a dance-drama tradition similar to the Yakshagana of the Telugu region. In the 20th century, artists such as Vempati Chinna Satyam reshaped it into a solo form performed by both women and men.

Kuchipudi combines nritta (pure dance), nritya (expressive dance) and natya (drama), and it also uses speech and song, which makes it unique among classical dances. One of its most famous elements is the Tarangam, in which the dancer balances on the edge of a brass plate, sometimes with a pot of water on the head, while performing intricate steps.

About the other options:

• The 12th century is linked with Jayadeva's Gita Govinda.
• The 15th century is linked with Sankaradeva and the beginnings of Sattriya in Assam.
• The 19th century is linked with the Tanjore Quartet, who organised the Bharatanatyam recital.