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ARTICLEThe connotative appellativeDoes arangetram need multicultural synonyms?- Dr Lavanya Iyere-mail: laasyadarpana@gmail.com September 18, 2026 Why is it that BHARATANATYAM ARANGETRAM-s are being categorically and repeatedly designated with the name of RANGAPRAVESHAM, duly by Bharatanatyam gurus themselves? Even on the invitation cards, the trend is being followed. Earlier, it was prevalent only in other south states which I attributed to state linguistic issues (not that I endorse it, but still it made sense). Now it's prevalent among the Tamizh speaking gentry from Tamil Nadu and in Tamil Nadu itself. Now that is appalling. Now my simple question is ----- Why is this so called "trend" prevalent and what has trend got to do with tradition? RANGAPRAVESHAM, a term exclusively associated with KUCHIPUDI, the classical art of Andhra and Telangana, neither fits into the linguistic side of Bharatanatyam nor is it that there has been any issue with the term ARANGETRAM which is exclusive to Bharatanatyam's patrimony and legacy of its mother state Tamil Nadu. Why take away the basic beauty of a Tamizh word meant to decorate the art born of Tamil Nadu and push a nonnative vernacular version for no reason. ETRAM and ARANGAM being Tamizh words fit the bill, RANGA and PRAVESHA being Sanskrit / Pali, definitely do not. We also see the terms MANCH or MANCHA that are derived from Prakrit / Sanskrit. Kathak and Odissi use the terms RANGMANCH PRAVESH and MANCHA PRAVESH respectively, which is common to Sattriya as well. Manipuri of course has a very different genre of MAIBI or the Ras Leela depending upon the debuts. Mohiniattam and Kathakali call it ARANGETTAM, the Malayalam equivalent of ETRAM specific to the state of origin. Never heard of a Kathak exponent announce that her student is ready for Arangetram or an Odissi or Kuchipudi artiste proclaim so. Do we see Kathak artistes in Karnataka or Kerala (hypothetically) say Rangapravesha instead of Rangmanch Pravesh or the Delhi Kuchipudi artistes term it Rangmanch Pravesh as is comfortable to the state linguistic practices? Never! Then why the deviation to suit states or respective languages only in the case of Bharatanatyam? They all stick to their traditional terminologies while we in the field of Bharatanatyam, are ever ready to get influenced and why? Why is Bharatanatyam alone one such art which is unnecessarily adulterated in every manner, now with changing names of basic festive events as well. Personally, I do not believe in Arangetrams as such anymore, as the age old sanctity and lustre of achieving a podium and proving oneself as a complete artiste is completely lost, thanks to any amateur taking to the virtual sites and showcasing any adulterated version of any classical art and getting applauded by greater novices. Again, that section of society which loves to somehow break the ordinance of grammar and flout the statutes of its vocabulary of anything classic, regales in massacring the identity of the art itself. The gajjapujai or salangai pujai has also become a business since the last two decades, with lakhs per pair of feet being charged especially by novices and art quacks, hoarded on a podium with many such pairs of manipulated feet, dramatizing the event by washing the so called Guru's feet and being made to wear ankle bells that have been worn multiple times in all and sundry places with footwear and what not. It's a shame that the artistes who revere the art and have spent precious years meditating upon it, with physical, intellectual and emotional investment, have to stay mute or get marginalized and then submerged to mute oblivion by the chaos the larger crowd creates. The classicists are hence a rare commodity now. For me therefore these celebrations have lost their vitality. Keeping the above said in mind, I well comprehend that the point I have raised will be appreciated and understood by very few, but just one factcheck question remains. Will you be ok if I change your name from Meenakshi, Lakshmi or Suman to something else just because I feel another name is so happening, or my state and my mother tongue prefers something else, will you agree? Why then, should the art succumb to your whims and fancies? Why are we bent upon breaking the basic festive identity of an art instead of embracing and celebrating its major or minor beauteous attributes that make it what it is.  Chennai based Dr. Lavanya Iyer (word sculptor) is a classical dancer, mentor, writer and Literature scholar. She is the creative faculty head and co-director at Laasya Darpana. Post your comments Pl provide your name along with your comment. All appropriate comments posted with name in the blog will also be featured in the site. |
