Vempati Ravi Shankar, a renowned Kuchipudi exponent and a legend for many lovers of classical dance, on Tuesday passed away due to cardiac arrest, at 3:45 AM.

The son of Vempati Chinna Satyam, a Padma Vibhushan recipient, was known for his passionate portrayal of the complicated dance form. A visionary, he was inventive and insuperable. He wrote 200 songs and composed the music for them by drawing from the knowledge he gained as a disciple of Padma Bhushan Balamurali Krishna. He was also a recipient of the Kala Ratna title from the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Ravi Shankar was also outspoken occasionally. As recently as a few days before he breathed his last, he lamented the decline of the "guru-shishya parampara".

Aged 48, he led an exemplary life. IndiaGlitz condoles his death. May his soul attain 'Sadgati'.