Gaddam Padmaja Reddy

Gaddam Padmaja Reddy (born 1 January 1967) is an Indian Kuchipudi exponent and music teacher. She performs ballets on mythological themes and contemporary social issues. She choreographed Kakatiyam, a Kuchipudi visual dance form. She was conferred with Kala Ratna in 2006, India's highest art award–Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2015 and Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in the field of art for 2022.

Early life Padmaja Reddy was born on 1 January 1967 in a Reddy family to G. V. Reddy and Swarajyalakshmi in Pamarru, Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh. She later moved to Hyderabad. Her family lived in Yousufguda. She was educated in St. Theresa School and then in Reddy College. She graduated in Bachelor of Arts. Apart from social issues, she performs in ballets involving mythology. Some of her mythological works include Bhamakalapam, Mahishashura Mardhini, Navadurgalu and Kakatiyam. The first part of the dance was performed in February 2017 and the second part was presented in December 2021, both in Shilpakala Vedika in Hyderabad. According to Reddy, the split of the ballet in two parts was due to the vastness of the dance concepts documented in Nritta Ratnavali and only some of them were chosen due to "budget and feasibility".

"I am just sowing the seed, nurturing and letting it grow is everyone’s responsibility. I consider the hurdles as my stepping stones and nothing would stop me from taking this art form to the people of Telangana." — Padmaja Reddy on her intentions about Kakatiyam In 2006, she was awarded with Kala Ratna by the united Andhra Pradesh government. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the highest award in arts in India, for her contributions to Kuchipudi in 2015 and became the first dancer from Telangana to receive the award. Later in 2022, the Government of India conferred her with Padma Shri, the country's fourth highest civilian award, in the field of arts.

Personal life Padmaja Reddy married Gaddam Srinivas Reddy in 1988,