The art form takes its name from the village of its birth, in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. Kuchipudi was the result of the Bhakti Movement in the 6th Century, in South India. In the 17th Century, Siddendra Yogi, the progenitor of the form, presented a dance-drama with boys from the village of Kuchipudi. Consciously they raised the form above the reach of the Devadasis. The boys were committed to an annual presentation of the form and they passed on the techniques to the next generation. So a tradition and form were born.

The performer has to express through dance and gestic language, speech and song. The kuchipudi artiste, apart from being a dancer and actor has to have a high proficiency-in the Sanskrit and Telugu languages, music and the texts of performance.

Kuchipudi plays are performed in the open air on improvised stages at night. The sutradhar, or master of ceremonies plays an integral role introducing characters, providing humor and tying together the show. The fast paced nature of the form has made it a popular dramatic form.