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 e-mail: khokar1960@gmail.com Ramayana revisited Photos: Madhukar April 3, 2023 Pratidwandi Ramayana is part of Ekah-Aneka offerings by thinking Mohiniattam star-dancer Gopika Varma. Four characters from the Ramayana - Manthara, the hunchback "maid" of Kaikeyi; Bharata's mother Kaikeyi herself; Ravana's sister Shurpanakha and Ravana himself- all seemingly odd, evil, even nasty but all necessary too as part of the larger design of karma, dharma, kama, moksha, the leitmotif of any Indian epic tale. Add four senior dancers whose artistry brings out these negative characters and one has a wholesome production. Congratulations! A late start is not fair to those who come on time, braving bad Bangalore roads and traffic. There were enough filler items before the main production, to start the evening punctually, like the mantra chanting Bhatt brothers and the stuti singer Shushmita. The presenter of the evening, birthday boy Mysore B. Nagaraj, all of 68, undertook a symbolic ten minute purvaranga pravesham feat that could have also filled time when audience was waiting.  Uma Dogra  Deepika Reddy Once the main show started, there was no let up. Manthara first, as one who was fated to instigate queen mother Kaikeyi to seek two boons King Dasharatha had granted when in a battle field. She had saved his chariot by putting her finger in the hole where the wheel had come off, thus earning his gratitude. Manthara reminds Kaikeyi to ask for these boons. Bombay based senior Kathak artiste Uma Dogra's act and even music score reminded one of Ramlila we saw in and by Delhi's Bharatiya Kala Kendra during the 1970s. Uma Dogra was a student those days there and stayed at Kendra hostel, learning Kathak from handsomest of Kathak dancers, Guru Pt. Durgalal. Taking Kathak chakkars can affect one's head and balance. Uma Dogra has always maintained a wholesome approach to art, smiling her way through a life in dance. Even a negative, repulsive character like Manthara, was made lovable by her artistry. Senior Kuchipudi talent Deepika Reddy next, as Kaikeyi, went through the paces and could not bend much perhaps due to the accident she alluded to. She had an ease of delivery and understated overall beauty of form. Enter Shurpanakha and who would think that basically the dance of the enchantress - Mohiniattam - could also depict such asur characters as Shurpanakha? But Gopika Varma did. Complete involvement with the story, form, content and context, she got under the skin of the role. Gopika Varma's whole body dances and her face can show a thousand emotions, fleetingly and effectively. She is a complete artiste. Detailed, first rate aharya, backed with angika and vachika, she is a critic's delight. That, only in the end, one learnt the concept was hers, added sheen to the substance. Why wasn't this stated in publicity materials and announcements?  Gopika Varma  Deepak Mazumdar Enter the dragon, Ravana - majestic, magnificent and maverick too. Guru Deepak Mazumdar undertook the role in quasi Kathakali vesham over his Bharatanatyam mould. Ravana wanted moksha at the hands of Vishnu, whose incarnation Rama was. This whole Sita abduction feat was towards that purpose. Excellent depiction by him took the production to its penultimate height. He has an economy of movement that only a senior and seasoned artiste can muster at will. He didn't do anything extra. There was total focus in his work. He and his crown shone. What shines in this production is the seamless chronological progression as the epic tale unfurls. So Manthara first, then Kaikeyi, followed by Shurpanakha and end with Ravana. Brilliant! Dancers did not just dance and go. Actually, at their senior age they hardly danced but emoted and that was enough to bring the tale alive. Each got roughly 20 minutes - I timed by my watch - add five each of excellent linking by the Sutradhar, so the actual production is about 90 minutes. Add first rate compering by Anjali Raj Urs and the spontaneous standing ovation said it all.  Mysore B Nagaraj Veteran Kuchipudi guru Sunanda Devi was felicitated and short and sweet speeches by all brought the evening to a splendid full stop, not before the devoted shishyas of Mysore B. Nagaraj led by Laxminarayan Jena - who came all the way from Bombay for just one day - showed how goodness in art, continues despite Kaliyuga.  Khokar is a critic and author by profession; historian by education; arts administrator by occupation; archivist by disposition; film compiler through documentation and celebrator of arts and artistes by tradition. More details on attendance-india.com Post your comments Please provide your name and email id when you use the Anonymous/blog profile to post a comment. All appropriate comments posted with name and email id in the blog will also be featured in the site. |
