Patruni Chidananda Sastry

Patruni Chidananda Sastry is a gender non binary, gender marvique, xenogender Indian expressionist dancer, India's First Tranimal Drag performer and Orator, born on 25th December from Kharagpur of West Bengal and presently lives in Hyderabad. Patruni Sastry has performed more than 200 dance and drag shows across the India, as well conducted Workshops. Patruni is known for their dance style “Indian expressionism” and performs drag with the name Suffocated Art Specimen.

Early Life
Patruni had created their own styles like Sufiyattam and Pseudo Natyam. They use dance to talk about tabooed subject such as LGBTQIA issues, sexual education and gender equality. They identify themself as genderfluid. 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. They created their unique renditions of Butoh called as Butohnatyam. Patruni has given TEDx Talks and actively voiced out their activism for LGBTQIA and transgender rights. .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 and later started performing Tranimal drag which is influenced by the postmodern drag movement in Los Angeles. Patruni is inspired by Daniel Lismore, Austin Young and Freda Prey. Patruni started Dragvanti, a platform for Indian drag artists, to promote and support the Indian drag community. Patruni also organized India's first Drag Con in Hyderabad.