Kuchipudi (Telugu : కూచిపూడి) (pronounced as 'Koochipoodi') is a Classical Indian dance form Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also popular all over South India. Kuchipudi is the name of a village in the Divi Taluka of Krishna district that borders the Bay of Bengal and with resident Brahmins practicing this traditional dance form, it acquired the present name.

The performance usually begins with some stage rites, after which each of the character comes on to the stage and introduces him/herself with a dharavu (a small composition of both song and dance) to introduce the identity, set the mood, of the character in the drama. The drama then begins. The dance is accompanied by song which is typically Carnatic music. The singer is accompanied by mridangam (a classical South Indian percussion instrument), violin, flute and the tambura (a drone instrument with strings which are plucked). Ornaments worn by the artists are generally made of a light weight wood called Boorugu.It originated in the seventh century.

Manju Warrier (born 1 November 1978) is an Indian film actress. She was among the popular lead actress in Malayalam cinema during the mid to late-1990s. Warrier made her debut in Saakshyam (1995). Her well known films include Sallapam, Ee Puzhayum Kadannu (1996), Thooval Kottaram (1996), Kaliyattam (1997), Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997), Daya (1998), Summer in Bethlehem (1998), and Pathram (1999). She won the National Film Award - Special Jury Award for her performance in Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu (1999). She got married to actor Dileep in 1998, and has quit acting since then.

Even when she was at school, Manju showed extra ordinary talent in dance, and won many awards. She was conferred Kalathilakam in Kerala Youth Festival for 2 years.

At the age of 17, she debut in the film Sakshyam (1995). Later at the age of 18, she acted in the movie Sallapam (1996), co-starring actor Dileep, which became a big hit. Since then, she acted in around 20 Malayalam movies over a span of three years, most of which have been hits. She has won numerous awards and critical acclaim and was considered to be the top heroine of her period. She is still one of the most loved actresses in Malayalam. She has not acted in any other languages in her career.