Gopi Krishna

Gopi Krishna (22 August 1935 – 18 February 1994) was an Indian Kathak dancer, actor and choreographer. He also studied Bharatnatyam. In 1952, at the age of seventeen, Gopi Krishna became one of the youngest choreographers in Hindi film history when he was hired to choreograph dances.

Life and career Gopi Krishna was born into a family of kathak dancers. His maternal grandfather Pandit Sukhdev Maharaj was a teacher of Kathak and his aunt Sitara Devi was a Kathak dancer who has performed around the world. When he was 11 years old, Gopi Krishna began training under his grandfather. He also learned from Shambhu Maharaj. In addition to Kathak, Gopi Krishna learned Bharatanatyam from Mahalingam Pillai and Govind Raj Pillai.

In 1952, 17-year-old Gopi Krishna became one of the youngest choreographers in Hindi film history when he was hired to choreograph dances for Madhubala in Saqi. In 1955, he appeared in his first film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje. In the film he played Girdhar, a talented young dancer whose love for his partner jeopardizes his dancing career. The film was successful mainly due to songs like Nain so nain naahi milao, and helped to revitalize public interest in classical dance. During the 1960s and 70s, he toured India's border posts, entertaining soldiers with Sunil Dutt's Ajanta Arts Cultural Troupe. He also acted as master dancer in 'Na moonh chhupake jiyo' in the BR Chopra film Humraaz and 'Champavati tu aaja' for the Asit Sen film Annadata. Both times he performed with his dance partner of many films, Madhumati. He played the character role of Latturam, Guruji in 1985 Rishi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna starrer Zamana. He also appeared in a small role in the legendary TV series Mahabharat.

Birth and death Gopi Krishna was born on 22 August 1935 in Calcutta and died on 18 February 1994, of a heart attack, in Bombay.

Style Gopi Krishna was an exponent of the Benares Gharana style of Kathak.