Harshita Kamath's book, Impersonations: The Artifice of Brahmin Masculinity in South Indian Dance is an ethnography on impersonation, traditionally embedded in the dance-theatre practices of the male brahmins of Kuchelapuram (also known as Kuchpudi) village in Andhra Pradesh. The Kuchipudi dance form derives its name from its traditional association with the Smarta Vaidiki brahmin sampradayam of this village. While stri-vesham, or female impersonation, was widely practiced in dance and theatre performances in India at least until the end of the colonial rule, Kamath prompts interesting arguments on notions of gender performance, more specifically constructs of masculinity, demonstrated within the Kuchipudi brahmin sampradayam. Her book elaborates upon the vital hagiographical notion, ascribed to Siddhendra Yogi (possibly living between 1500 and 1700 CE), that the male Kuchipudi brahmins piously perform/impersonate the lead role of Satyabhama, the queen of Lord Krishna, in his play Bhamakalapam at least once in their lifetime. The...

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