Annabattula Lakshmi Mangatayaru & Leela Sai

Born in 1954 and 1953 respectively, in village Mummidivaram, East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, Shrimati Annabattula Lakshmi Mangatayaru and Shrimati Annabattula Leela Sai were trained in Prachina Aalaya Sampradayam tradition of Kalavantulu under their grandmother Shrimati Annabattula Buli Venkatarathnamma. Shrimati Annabattula Lakshmi Mangatayaru and Annabattula Leela Sai have also received extensive training in various allied traditional art forms such as Ganapathi Koutham, Tharangalu, Astapadulu, Keerthanalu, Salamjathulu, Jaavaleelu, Dasavatharamulu, and Sloka Abhinayam. They have extensively performed in various temple festivals of the State and prominent festivals of the country. For their lifetime achievement in the arts, Shrimati Annabattula Lakshmi Mangatayaru and Annabattula Leela Sai have been honoured by various organizations. They have been conferred the Ugadhi Puruskar from Kanchi Kamakoti Peethan in 2000. Shrimati Annabattula Lakshmi Mangatayaru and Shrimati Annabattula Leela Sai jointly receive the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for their contribution to the traditional theatre of Andhra Pradesh.