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Report by Ms.Lakshmi Sivakumar and Mr.P.Sivakumar
 “Shree” Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Nritya Kalamandiram, Bangalore speaks
about a journey of the art so far so good, an initiative of a special day 25
years ago, Nritya Kalamandiram have ventured through all the ravages of times
and tide, and today we have the “ Bangara Festival” as a most coveted event in
the annals of Classical Dance. One evening amongst a series of presentation for
the Silver Jubilee Celebrations was January 6, 2007. JSS auditorium, Jayanagar,
Bangalore was the venue for the event. The Evening commenced with “Ganesha
Stuti” by dancing duo Radhika Chaitanya and Vandana Bharadwaj, disciples of the
well known Guru Smt.Bhanumathi With “Ganesha Stuti”. The Artist begin to offer
prayers to the almighty seeking his blessings for a successful performance.
No
doubt the prayers were answered in totality as the danseuse performed
beautifully, indeed a good beginning for the evening’s proceedings. Ganesha
Stuti was followed by a “ Kriti” – “ Jai Janaki Ramana” set to “Raag Malika” and
“Khanda Chapu Tala”. The duet artists presented very well choreographed episodes
on “ Vishnu Avatar”. They had a good stage presence, as the were able to keep
the rasikas attention on the stage. Radhika Chaitanya performed a solo Padam
titled “ Aduyum Sholluval ” Radhika as a “Swadhena Patika Nayika” was a
wonderful presentation, she definitely showed a class of her stage experience
with apt expressions. A Javali followed this Padam, as Vandana Bharadwaj
presented a solo “ Edeney Sakhi” set to Behaag Raag. As a “ Vasaka Sajja” Nayika
Vandana made very good attempt in portraying the Character. A high point of
Vandana’s performance was the transition from a “ Vasaka Sajja” to a “ Virohit
Kantika” This choreography of the legendary Venkatalakshamma, the maestro of
Mysore style of Bharatanatyam was well attempted in execution by Vandana.
Tillana was the concluding item of the duet artist. It was based on the
composition of Vidushi Smt.Dwarki Krishnaswamy, Set to Adi tala based on
“Valachi Raaga”.
The Guru’s Choreographical brilliance was livened by the
artists, with unusual combination of Adavus, they synchronized well performing
Tillana. Both Radhika and Vandana showed good amount of fineness in their duet
performances, lot of hardwork goes into such presentation and at the end of
their performance, they surely might be delighted. Radhika Chaitanya drew home a
point about having a lot of stage experience, while Vandana Bharadawaj too had a
good performance, Vandana surely can rise to another high level in her dance, a
control on breathing and some more expressive with her abhinaya, Vandana will be
a much better dancer. “ Varnam by Couple dancers Anu Shridhar” They are a
twosome, but their art shows, it is one heart of the Art with two wonderful
artists. Love and Commitment towards dance, they have made it their Life. Anu –
Shridhar can be easily remarked as the ones who live on the stage, and liven it
up with their sheer presence, made for the Each Other can be said about Dance
and Wonder Couple Anu – Shridhar. Highly commendable is the fact that though
they are just a twosome, but they bring to life so many characters and
situations. This is the Sheer Brilliance of the Artists. Anu – Shridhar
performed Varnam, a composition of Shri Lalgudi Jayaraman in Raag Shanmukha
Priya. This Varnam was based on Tirupati Venkatarmana, they danced to
beautifully explicit the lord. Beginning with the tale of “Ahilya” Anu and
Shridhar performed as an unfolding story that captured the audience attention.
Deen Dayalu followed bringing forth the compassionate Venkataramana, they danced
the episode of Draupadi from Mahabharata, this episode was a bench mark of
sorts, though the scene performed involved only Draupadi and Dushashana , you
would feel the Lord Krishna’s presence. Effective with such a high consistency
the story of Vamana , Venkatagirisha followed. Chittey Swara and Charana – Word
and dance about Venkataramana, was as wonderful as any moment during their
brilliant performance. They concluded with the saying “ Hae Rama, hae Padmanabha
you are the one who showers happiness for all”.
The time Lapsed with the moving
images of the twosome deeply engraved on the hearts of the rasikas. They reach
our hearts through the eyes of the rasika, they reach into our hearts and we all
cherish to keep the moving images with us all through life. Their highest level
of synchronization during their performance makes us believe, each bell of their
ankle was striking simultaneously.
The joy of dance which the duo have transmits
to all, it becomes an attachment between the eyes of the rasikas with the
wonderful artists. If one is a learner, he takes away lot from their
presentation. Their Anga shuddhi , use of the available dance space , ability to
reach the rasikas and be able to communicate with them. Abhinaya of Anu
Shridhar, lot has been said and written about it, you need to live the art to be
able to present the abhinaya of such high order. Their Jatis, the brisk
footwork, Anu- Shridhar’s energies of Jatis culminating into a stillness of a
beautiful postures was a hallmark of their presentation. Tandava and Lasya
aspects in their performance emphasizes hardwork and dedication by the artist
that they have been able to maintain.
Great Performances are about a cohesive
effort and Anu – Shridhars performance this evening was woven around by support
in the form of : Vocal – Bharati Venugopal Nattuvangam – Master Kartik Datar
Violin – Dr.Nataraj Murthy Flute – Sarwootham Mridangam – Harsha Samoya The
Concluding Performance for the evening was by dancing duo Josephine Savitha and
Nagabrinda Srinivas, disciples of the well known Guru Smt.Bhanumathi. The duo
began with Shabdam which was a combination of “ Shollu Kattu” and “ Sahitya”.
Based on the lord Shiva. The dancers were able to generate a mirror like flow of
dance, such minutely worked on their synchronized moments. An energetic
performance by the two some . Through the opening piece the young dancers seemed
to have hit the best, complementing each other. One would just think, was it an
after effect of Anu – Shridhars performance, the energies seemed to be there
very much. Savitha and Nagabrinda then moved on to present showcased the plight
of the devotees of Ranganatha Swami at Sreerangam, the dancers immaculately
performed all the aspects from this mythological epic with, each portion from
the story about lord Vishnu was very well performed, from his incarnations like
Parshurama, their dance consisted a lot of adaptations about lord Krishna. They
performed this piece beautifully. Josephine Savitha presented a Kriti in Poorvi
Kalyani Raag, Adi Tala. She danced solo “ Ananda Tandav” which was based on the
song “ Ananda Natamaduva Tillai.” Savitha’s performance as a soloist was a
highlight of this performance, she was at ease in portraying the story about the
beauty of dance of Lord Shiva, an item about Shiva and his Dance, his Characters
truly seems to be the inspiration which led this young danseuse to perform with
applauses for her neat presentation, she was flexible with poses in this item.
Her dance was beautiful with confidence. Savitha was able to draw the attention
of the audience with her flawless dance. Nagabrinda performed a solo Padam set
to Raag Saveri and Roopak Tala. She portrayed a “ Khandita Nayika” waiting for
Lord Subramanya. The Padam was a dialogue between the Nayika who is outraged
with the Nayaka for his behaviour, and not responding to her. Nayika proves to
the lord how he was at other women’s place by showing him the proofs, in the
form of hair, kaajal, marks, and finally she asks the lord to leave.
Nagabrinda’s performance of this Padam was good, but it can come up many levels
too, as an enraged Nayika her portrayal was slightly off mark, the abhinaya
needs some push too. But once again with the concluding item for the evening “
Tillana” it was yet again a crowning glory of the wonderful evening, the duo
presented some very intricate footwork, and Mangalam was to end the evening.
Their performance had it all the angasudhi and abhinaya, they are very good
future for the art, with a little bit of fine tuning in her expression
Nagabrinda would do herself wonders.
The Audience in the full capacity applauded
each and every performance whole heartedly, a good performance needs to be
applauded and encouraged as the audience rightly did.
The Report has been
jointly penned by Ms.Lakshmi Sivakumar and Mr.P.Sivakumar Photo Courtesy :
Ms.Lakshmi Sivakumar and Mr.P.Sivakumar Address : Pune : - C – 1, Type – II,
Botanical Survey of India Qtrs., 7 Koregaon Road, Pune 411 001 Address Bangalore
: - “Centre for Divine Arts” , # 707, 17th Cross, 25th Main, 6th phase, J P
Nagar, Bangalore 560078 Tel Pune No. 020- 26056215 Bangalore No. 080 -26549363
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