Patruni Sastry
Suffocated Art Specimen
Born
Patruni Chidananda Sastry

(1992-12-25) December 25, 1992
Kharagpur, West Bengal
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Dancer, Drag Artist, Performance Artist, Columnist, Model
SpouseRaja Rajeswari Devi
Websitewww.sas3dancingfeet.com

Patruni Sastry, popularly known as Patruni Chidananda Sastry or Suffocated art Specimen is a Expressionist dancer,[1] performance artist,[2] visual artist,[3] model and drag queen.

Biography

Sastry started dancing at the age of 5. He was inspired by Ramya Krishnan from Padayappa in his initial days.[4] Later from the Expressionist movement.[5] He later learned Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam,[6] Odissi, Butoh,[7] Contemporary dance.[8] Sastry was inspired from Daniel Lismore, Austin Young and started performing Tranimal drag.[9] Sastry performed at Hyderabad Literature festival, Namma Pride, The Lalit Ashok, Lamakaan.[10] Shilparamam, and in many other public spaces.[11] He founded Dragvanti[12] and also acted in a short film 'Polar Night' which is based on the Polar Night effect by Rakesh Asileti.[13] In 2021, Sastry was the convener for India's first Drag Conference.[14] Sastry uses dance to talk about social topics such as sex education,[15] queer activism and women empowerment.

Performance style

Patruni self termed the dance as "Indian Expressionism", Inspired from Expressionist Dance with indian classical dance vocabulary. Explaining about the art from Patruni Said "This woman is so raged that she got rejected, she screams out loud and dances. So for the very first time as a kid, when I saw this, I thought if you have to show your anger, you have to dance…And since then, I kind of picked [it] up. Whenever my mom was not giving me a chocolate or whenever I was not getting what I wanted, I used to scream aloud and dance, That was, how it became a kind of an expression.”[16] Patruni also blends the idea of performance art in every presentation. His performance are majorly centered towards body and how its centered with society, agency, and politics. Talking about performance art Patruni says "“I always [saw] my body as a kind of canvas,” Sastry says. “Literally using the body as a part of a movement—a movement is a canvas…When I pose a certain way or when I’m just posing in a different way—escalating my body into a certain form—it automatically creates a canvas. It automatically creates an art.”[17]

Patruni's Style of Drag is an Indian inspiration of Tranimal Drag. Patruni explains tranimal drag as "I always [saw] my body as a kind of canvas,” [18] Sastry says. "But, unlike traditional drag, in which performers are praised for their elegance and beauty, I was attracted to tranimal style–also called “drag terrorism”. Tranimal drag is the drag of poor, available drag queens. It does not throw money on clothes and cosmetics, and works on only one belief: “this will do”. Tranimal drag performers make outfits themselves with available trash. They look vigorous, and they momentarily erase beauty and gender norms. When I perform tranimal I am liberated, I become the drag queen who doesn’t wear heels, but performs bare-footed for the less privileged community that I try to remind myself of."[19]

Activism

In 2018, a Telugu YouTube channel created more than a couple of videos which were homophobic, transphobic and gender phobic, to which Patruni confronted with a petition to take the channel down.[20] Patruni has also shared opinions of legalization of same sex marriages, gay locker room[21] and the Snapchat new gender swap filter which seemed like a mockery of trans and gender nonbinary identities.[22] In the same year Patruni also As a response to the Indian government stands on queer marriage rights Patruni said "I cannot believe that people who are involved in making polices are being this irrational about the basic gender rights of a human being. We expect our fellow citizens to stand with us in this as it’s a threat to the existence of entire community".[23] In 2020, Patruni also raised his voice against transphobic episode telecasted on a popular reality show Big Boss Telugu.[24]

Patruni has voiced out for Indian Bisexual and Pansexual rights in multiple occasions. In 2021, Patruni welcomed the DC's Bisexual Superman initiatives with open heart by saying "The whole Superman thing made me feel empowered after a long time. He came out as a bisexual which is not so usual. People usually come out as gay or a trans person. When a protagonist like Superman reveals his sexual identity, it triggers a conversation about gender diversity and inclusion".[25] In the same year Patruni has condemned a cover photo of Ayushmann Khurrana on GQ (Indian edition) which called itself to be representing the gender fluidity. calling the act a huge problem Patruni said "People need to understand that gender fluidity is not about costume play. Wearing a ghaghra or putting a nail paint from a cis-het privilege doesn’t make someone gender fluid. Such things are quite insulting and disqualifying to the actual lives of people who are gender fluid. It leads to a lot of trauma and disqualification of a person’s existence."[26] Patruni also worked created multiple telugu language folk songs to educate people on LGBTQIA+ issues.[27]

In the Same year Patruni Organized Hyderabad's first ever BI/PAN fest celebrating the most under-represented identities of the queer community.[28]

In 2022, Patruni spoke about Ram Gopal Verma's Lesbian-based movie "Dangerous", he said “Even if it is released in PVR and multiplexes, who is benefiting-RGV or the community? Is it message-oriented like Badhai Do or Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui? In a media interaction, he wanted to discuss only lesbian and not gay-related issues. If he donates half of his earnings to the community, then yes we can support him".[29] Patruni has also revolted for Gangubai Kathiawadi, speaking about the representation on Trans character by Vijay Raaz , In a Twitter post, Patruni said "Yet another shameless robbery of trans role. The only roles trans people get is to play are like this one and when some cis person plays a trans role, they take away the only opportunity"[30]

Patruni hosted a podcast named Rangula Rattnam (transl. Colourful Carousel/Wheel of Colours) in 2022 that features members of the queer community discussing their lives and journeys in Telugu, making it possibly the first Telugu podcast to be hosted by a queer person.[31][32]

In 2022, Patruni performed in drag in a public metro station in Hyderabad where a child joined them in dancing to Patruni's Song. A social media post shared by Yes we Exists gained more than a lakh views. As a part of the post, Patruni said "They ban kids from drag shows and say we are scary. But then, kids just shower love on drag queens,".[33][34]

Personal life

In 2018, Patruni came out as a genderfluid person.[35] In the same year Sastry identified himself as a pansexual.[36] In one of the interviews he also said that he is in relationship with a cisgender woman and is planning to marry her soon.[37] In 2021, Patruni redefined themselves as pomosexual person.[38] and non-binary gender. On August 18, 2021, Patruni married Raja Rajeswari devi in Hindu rituals.

In 2022, Humans of Bombay, a social media platform covered a feature of Patruni and Rajeswari together which went viral on social media. In which Patruni said "My wife encourages me to be myself!".[39] The video went viral with more than 2.5 million people viewership.[40] In the same year, talking in an interview Patruni said "When I was looking to get married, there were so many people who said that I’d have to put aside my sexual identity. Others said it would mean I was cheating on my partner and many such ignorant things. Some even thought marriage would mean the end of my drag career. But, I’m grateful to have a wife like Rajeswari. She never questions anything I do. She gives me the warmth and love which I never got for ages".[41]

In 2023, Patruni Sastry and their partner Rajeswari devi were part of an allyship campaign by Absolut India, where they both burst the myths of Bisexuality.[42] Speaking about the experience for an interview Patruni said "Brands are usually picking up stories about trans people or people who are homosexual. Stories of other identities like non-binary people and bisexual people are not picked up. Time and again we see the same people and individuals involved in these brands. Sexuality or gender is all about perspective. I see transness in a far more different way than other people"[43]

In 2023, Patruni and Rajeswari made officially announced that they are welcoming a baby into their life which would make Patruni 'India's first ever drag queen to have a biological kid'.[44] In June 2023, Patruni announced that they had a baby,[45] without revealing their gender, speaking in an interview Patruni said "I don’t want some random parent to see my drag videos, show it to their kids and then that kid teases my child the next day, because of my profession. I have experienced trauma and I don't want it to pass on to my child. However, my wife reassured me that times have changed. Unlike when we were growing up, schools now engage in open seminars and conversations about these topics. It is up to us, as parents, to actively shape the progressive narrative."[46][47] Patruni has also written an autobiography 'Life is drag,sas it up ' making them the first ever indian drag artist to write an autobiography. [48]

Music

Folk songs

  • Pride Masam Anna [49]
  • Cheeranjiva Sukhibhava [50]
  • Chudu Sexy Gurl [51]
  • Rangula Rangamma [52]
  • Bisexual Ravanamma [53]

Music videos

Year Title Singer(s) Ref.
2022 Kaun Bataye Dastan Live [54]
Sunshine on the Street Peekay and Andrea Tariang [55]

Publications

  • "Dressing as a Goddess: A Drag Photo book" (2020)[56]
  • "My Experiments with Drag"(2020)[57]
  • "Life is Drag, Sas it up" (2023)[58]

Selected live performances

  • 2014,2019: Queer And Allie Film and Art Festival[59]
  • 2017: International Story Telling Festival
  • 2018, 2019: Hyderabad Literature Festival[60]
  • 2019: Out and Loud Film festival,Pune[61]
  • 2018:Menstrual Festival, Hyderabad
  • 2018, 2019: Paryatan Parva, Hyderabad
  • 2019: Ugadi Utsavalu, Hyderabad[62]
  • 2019,2020: Queer Carnival Hyderabad[63]
  • 2020, 2021: Queer Fiesta Hyderabad[64]
  • 2021: Hyderabad Dance Festival[65]
  • 2021: Samaanta by ICCR [66]
  • 2022:Mehefil e queer [67]
  • 2022:Satarangi Mela by Queer Nilayam[68]
  • 2023:Goa Pride festival[69]
  • 2023:Hyderabad Queer Dance Festival[70]

Performance art

  • 2019: Four Play[71]
  • 2019: Strip Tease
  • 2019: Patra
  • 2019: Mati [72]
  • 2019:What's My Colour[73]
  • 2019: Nirod[74]
  • 2020:69
  • 2021: Coronasura[75]

Film appearances

  • Polar Night (as actor)[76]
  • Shoonyam (as director)[77]
  • 70/100 (as editor)[78]
  • The Glint : A documentary film Hyderabad drag club by students of Bhavans
  • A Gathering by Poojita
  • Makkan : A documentary film on Housing of trans people by students of Annapurna Studios
  • Suffocated - a 60 sec documentary by Sujit Kumar[79]
  • Spilling Sas - A documentary by Prerna Toshnivala [80]

References

  1. ↑ Borah, Prabalika M. (30 April 2019). "Dance towards positive thoughts: Patruni Chidananda Sastry". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  2. ↑ Rao, Siddharth. "When body becomes a work of art". Telangana Today.
  3. ↑ Authors, Multiple; Nampoothiri, Hareesh N.; P, Praveen Kumar; B, Priyanka; Lakshmi, T. Reddi (21 April 2020). "Artograph Vol 02 Iss 01 (2020 Jan-Feb)". Newnmedia – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ "Who Am I: 25-YO Hyderabad Dancer Will Make You Question Gender Norms". 1 August 2018.
  5. ↑ "Patruni Chidananda Sastry on expressionist form of dance, and how it can give a voice to communities". Firstpost. 27 August 2018.
  6. ↑ Chakravorty, Reshmi (31 July 2018). "Demystifying a taboo". Deccan Chronicle.
  7. ↑ "This 25-year-old classical dancer is integrating the distressing Japanese art form, Butoh with Bharatanatyam". The New Indian Express.
  8. ↑ "Meet the Hyderabad dancer who is unboxing gender, one step at a time". Hindustan Times. 4 August 2018.
  9. ↑ Reid-Smith, Tris (19 March 2020). "How a 27-year-old queer Indian brought drag to their city". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  10. ↑ "Leading in his own footsteps". The New Indian Express.
  11. ↑ "India's drag queens put politics front and center". Nikkei Asia.
  12. ↑ "DragVanti: How India's first drag website aims to encourage the art form". Lifestyle Asia India. 19 June 2020.
  13. ↑ Borah, Prabalika M. (17 April 2020). "COVID-19: 'Polar night' is a short film on loneliness during lockdown". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  14. ↑ Ramadurai, Charukesi (25 June 2021). "'Drag is political': the pioneering Indian event uniting art and activism". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  15. ↑ "How to Learn About Sex Through Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi and Odissi". www.vice.com. 25 July 2018.
  16. ↑ Verma, Vandana (8 August 2018). "A rhythmic battle for equal rights". www.democracynewslive.com. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  17. ↑ "Interview with Patruni Chidananda Sastry, Overachiever Magazine". Overachiever Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  18. ↑ Saxena, Akanksha (10 January 2022). "My Story: 'Drag Helps Me Bridge The Gap Between My Gender Visuality And My Performance As An Artist'". thelogicalindian.com. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  19. ↑ Pant, Manasi (26 September 2019). "In Conversation With Patruni Chidananda Sastry: Exploring Dance And Sexuality". Feminism In India. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Queer community in Hyd slams popular prankster Vinay Kuyya's offensive videos". The News Minute. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  21. ↑ Saranya Chakrapani (27 May 2020). "Let's not forget the locker rooms that shame LGBTQI youth | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  22. ↑ "Gender swap filter: Amusing or insulting? - Times of India". The Times of India. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  23. ↑ "Centre's stand is regressive, it's crushing our hopes: Hyderabad's LGBTQIA+ community | Hyderabad News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  24. ↑ "Why the crossdressing challenge on 'Bigg Boss' Telugu was transphobic". The News Minute. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  25. ↑ "Great news for the queer community, but just one Superman won't do - Times of India". The Times of India. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  26. ↑ "Ayushmann Khurrana schooled for calling his look 'gender fluid'; know what it actually means". The Indian Express. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  27. ↑ "Patruni Chidananda Sastry's queer reimagination of popular Telugu culture". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  28. ↑ "Bi/Pansexual Fest held in Hyderabad". Telangana Today. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  29. ↑ "LGBT groups wary of Ram Gopal Varma's new film". 7 April 2022.
  30. ↑ "Alia Bhatt's 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' Gets Backlash for Casual Racism, Casting a Cishet Actor as a Transwoman". 8 February 2022.
  31. ↑ "The rainbow in Telugu". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  32. ↑ Saxena, Tanisha. "How a Telugu podcast is forging a vocabulary of queer assertion". The Caravan. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  33. ↑ "WATCH: Drag Artiste Joined by Kid in Joyful Performance at Hyderabad Metro Station". News18. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  34. ↑ Scroll Staff (28 June 2022). "Watch: Child joins drag queen's performance at a busking event held in a Hyderabad metro station". Scroll.in. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  35. ↑ "It took me 23 years to finally realise that I am gender fluid - Times of India". The Times of India. 16 September 2018.
  36. ↑ Tan, Kiki (17 February 2021). "Here comes… Gothic drag". Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  37. ↑ "Why can't men be 'The Bride'?". FridayWall Magazine. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  38. ↑ "A platform for Indian drag". Mintlounge. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  39. ↑ "Indian drag artist shares how their wife encourages, supports their art. Watch". Hindustan Times. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  40. ↑ "WATCH: Indian Drag Artiste Talks about Exploring His Sexuality and Finding Love". News18. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  41. ↑ "The warmth of acceptance". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  42. ↑ Bhuyan, Gouri; Khan, Mikhail (2 February 2023). "Here's Why We Need To Build Towards Stronger Allyship With The LGBTQIA+ Community". Homegrown. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  43. ↑ "Brands Should Go Beyond Tokenism And Be More Queer-friendly, Say LGBTQIA Influencers". Forbes India. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  44. ↑ Sastry, Patruni Chidananda (16 February 2023). "I am a Drag Queen and a to-be Dad". Gaylaxy Magazine. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  45. ↑ ""It's An Incredible Feeling To Be A Biological Dad While Also Being A Drag Queen", Says Patruni Sastry". Zee Zest. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  46. ↑ "INTERVIEW: Hyderabad's drag artiste Patruni Chidananda Sastry on fatherhood, happy marriage and hilarious audience reactions". www.indulgexpress.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  47. ↑ "Meet Patruni Sastry, the dancer who brought drag to Hyderabad". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  48. ↑ "A drag queen's odyssey". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  49. ↑ Pride Masam Anna, 25 June 2021, retrieved 2 August 2021
  50. ↑ "Cheeranjiva Sukhibhava". Spotify. 2 December 2021.
  51. ↑ "Chudu Sexy Gurl". Spotify. 2 December 2021.
  52. ↑ "Rangula Rangamma". Spotify. January 2021.
  53. ↑ "Bisexual Ravanamma". Spotify. 10 December 2021.
  54. ↑ Dastaan LIVE - Kaun Bataye? (OFFICIAL VIDEO), retrieved 18 February 2022
  55. ↑ Peekay & Andrea Tariang - Sunshine On The Street [Official Music Video], retrieved 18 February 2022
  56. ↑ Sastry, Patruni Chidananda; Asiletti, Rakesh. Dressing As a Goddess: A Drag Photobook by Patruni Sastry. ISBN 979-8740203089.
  57. ↑ Sastry, Patruni Chidananda; Das, Manab; Asileti, Rakesh; Biswas, Anindya; Chivukula, Raghavendra; Gangala, Santosh Kumar; Komaravelli, Akhil; Kumar, Ishwaku; Aerat, Xen (13 May 2021). My Experiments with Drag: Sexy, Sacred and Suffocated. Amazon Digital Services LLC - Kdp. ISBN 979-8503676037.
  58. ↑ Noble, Barnes &. "Life is Drag|Paperback". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  59. ↑ Subramanian, Aditi (11 November 2019). "The rainbow shines at Chennai's the Queer and Allies Art Festival". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  60. ↑ "Patruni Chidananda Sastry". Hyderabad Literary Festival 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  61. ↑ Shajini S. R. (1 August 2017). "LGBT artists: LGBTQ art fest blurs boundaries, garners ovation | Hyderabad News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  62. ↑ TelanganaToday. "Ugadi celebrations at Shilparamam in Hyderabad". Telangana Today. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  63. ↑ "The rainbow was in full bloom at this Queer Carnival - Times of India". The Times of India. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  64. ↑ "Rainbow shades of love". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  65. ↑ BWW News Desk. "Photos: Hyderabad Dance Festival Ends With A Rainbow Inclusion". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  66. ↑ "Samanta to connect communities through dance and art showcasing Kathak and Bharatnatyam dances by transgender women artistes from Jaipur and Hyderabad | Indian Council for Cultural Relations". iccr.gov.in. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  67. ↑ "It feels great to have physical gatherings again: Hyderabad's LGBTQ+ community". The Times of India. 8 April 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  68. ↑ News Desk (12 October 2022). "Satrangi Mela: Queer culture to be celebrated in Hyderabad on Oct 15". The Siasat Daily. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  69. ↑ D'silva, Roxanne (2 April 2023). "Join in on the extra-gay-vanza at Goa Pride Festival 2023". Gomantak Times. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  70. ↑ Soparrkar, Sandip (2 July 2023). "Dragvanti: Drag goes desi". Pune Times Mirror. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  71. ↑ Sukwindeer, Singh; publication (24 October 2019). "Hyderabad witnesses Four Play, an Interactive Art Performance". Gaylaxy Magazine. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  72. ↑ "Need of the hour: More acceptance for those suffering with mental health issues- The New Indian Express". cms.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  73. ↑ "Queer carnival 2019 ended on a gay note in the city - Times of India". The Times of India. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  74. ↑ "Activists spread AIDS awareness through performance art - Times of India". The Times of India. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  75. ↑ "Shilparamam opens with a play on Coronasura". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  76. ↑ Asileti, Rakesh (5 May 2020), Polar Night (Short, Mystery), Patruni Chidananda Sastry, Sonakshi Verma, retrieved 1 June 2021
  77. ↑ Shoonyam, retrieved 1 June 2021
  78. ↑ "70/100 (Short 2020) - IMDb". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  79. ↑ Suffocated | 60 seconds Documentary By Sujit Kumar| Drag Documentary | Patruni Sastry, retrieved 6 October 2023
  80. ↑ Spilling Sas | Documentary| Patruni Sastry| By Prerna Toshniwala | Telugu Drag Queen, retrieved 6 October 2023
Look up female impersonator in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Look up drag queen in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.