MASTER GARU
Preserve a Rare Artistic Legacy MASTER GARU
A documentary on one of the last living custodians of Traditional Kuchipudi Yakshaganam.
Master Garu is a feature-length documentary that explores the world of Traditional Kuchipudi Yakshaganam, a centuries-old performance tradition that brings together dance, music, theatre, storytelling, and ritual.
At the heart of the film is Sri Pasumarthi Rattaiah Sarma, one of the last living masters carrying this tradition in its classical form. Through his life, teachings, performances, and the enduring bond with his disciple Sreelakshmy Govardhanan, the film offers a rare glimpse into an artistic heritage that is slowly disappearing from the cultural landscape.
More than a biographical portrait, Master Garu is an effort to document, preserve, and celebrate a living tradition before it fades from memory.
Master Garu
Is a feature-length observational documentary that follows the life and artistic journey of Pasumarthi Rattaiah Sarma, one of the last living custodians of traditional Kuchipudi Yakshaganam. Rooted in the classical dance-theatre tradition of Andhra Pradesh, the film explores his lifelong dedication to preserving an endangered art form that blends dance, music, dialogue, and storytelling. Through intimate moments of teaching, rehearsals, travel, and performance, the documentary captures a rare guru-disciple relationship between the master and his disciple Sreelakshmy Govardhanan from Kerala. More than a portrait of an artist, *Master Garu* is a meditation on cultural preservation, artistic integrity, devotion, and the quiet resilience required to carry tradition across generations. Directed by Archana Padmini, the film unfolds as an immersive cinematic journey through memory, heritage, and lived philosophy.