Patruni Chidananda Sastry

Patruni Chidananda Sastry is a genderfluid Indian expressionist[1] dancer, India's First Tranimal Drag performer [2] and Orator, born on 25th December from Kharagpur of West Bengal and presently lives in Hyderabad[3].[4] Patruni Sastry has performed more than 200 dance and drag shows across the India, as well conducted Workshops.[5]Patruni is known for their dance style “Indian expressionism” and performs drag with the name Suffocated Art Specimen.[6][7][8]

Patruni Chidananda Sastry aka Suffocated Art Specimen (SAS)
Patruni Sastry captured by Manab Das
Date of birth 25th December 1992
Place of birth Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
Nationality Indian
Pronouns they/them
Gender identity genderfluid & nonbinary
Occupation Expressionist dancer, drag artist, activist
Known for being India's first Tranimal drag queen

Early LifeEdit

Patruni had created their own styles like Sufiyattam[9] and Pseudo Natyam. They use dance to talk about tabooed subject such as LGBTQIA issues[10], sexual education[11] and gender equality.[12]They identify themself as genderfluid.[13]Patruni learnt Classical dance forms Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Odissi. Initially started performing as a traditional artist and slowly moved to contemporary art.

Patruni also went through training of Butoh under Adam Koan.[14] They created their unique renditions of Butoh called as Butohnatyam.[15]Patruni has given TEDx Talks and actively voiced out their activism for LGBTQIA and transgender rights.[16].Patruni carries a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Bankura Unnayani institute of technology and an MBA from Jaipur National University. they also holds a Diploma in Bharatanatyam.

Patruni started doing drag in June 2019 in order to kickstart drag in Hyderabad[17] and later started performing Tranimal drag which is influenced by the postmodern drag movement in Los Angeles[18]. Patruni is inspired by Daniel Lismore, Austin Young and Freda Prey[19]. Patruni started Dragvanti, a platform for Indian drag artists, to promote and support the Indian drag community[20]. Patruni also organized India's first Drag Con in Hyderabad.[21]

ReferencesEdit

  1. "Who Am I: 25-YO Hyderabad Dancer Will Make You Question Gender Norms". The Better India. 2018-08-01. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  2. Aug 1, Shajini S. R. /; 2017; Ist, 06:00. "LGBT artists: LGBTQ art fest blurs boundaries, garners ovation | Hyderabad News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. "Shilparamam opens with a play on Coronasura". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  4. "Meet the Hyderabad dancer who is unboxing gender, one step at a time". Hindustan Times. 2018-08-04. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  5. https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-weekend/dance-in-boardrooms-hyderabad/article25523464.ece Archived on 17 July 2023
  6. "Patruni Chidananda Sastry on expressionist form of dance, and how it can give a voice to communities-Living News , Firstpost". Firstpost. 2018-08-27. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  7. The Citizen https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/7/19955/Reimagining-Heroines-of-Rabindranath-Tagore-with-Drag Archived on 17 July 2023
  8. Reid-Smith, Tris (2020-05-05). "South Asian drag stars demand visibility with Brown Drag Exists campaign". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  9. https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/savour-hindi-flavours/article24825754.ece Archived on 17 July 2023
  10. Verma, Vandana (2018-08-08). "A rhythmic battle for equal rights". www.democracynewslive.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  11. "How to Learn About Sex Through Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi and Odissi". www.vice.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  12. Nov 5, Srivathsan Nadadhur / TNN /; 2018; Ist, 08:00. "The trials and tribulations of men who dance | Hyderabad News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. "It took me 23 years to finally realise that I am gender fluid - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  14. "Integrating Bharatanatyam and Japan's Butoh with grace". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  15. "This 25-year-old classical dancer is integrating the distressing Japanese art form, Butoh with Bharatanatyam". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  16. "What happened to Pranay can happen to any one of us: LGBTQ activists - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  17. "Celebrating the diversity of drag". Telangana Today. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  18. Pant, Manasi (2019-09-26). "In Conversation With Patruni Chidananda Sastry: Exploring Dance And Sexuality". Feminism In India. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  19. "India's drag queens put politics front and center". Nikkei Asia. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  20. "For all things drag". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  21. Bhavani, Divya Kala (25 October 2019). "Hyderabad to have its first-ever Drag Con". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2021.