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 An embellished recital - Rasika January 27, 2023 Brindha Venkatakrishnan was presented in a Bharatanatyam recital under the auspices of Kartik Fine Arts at Swami Haridoss Giri Hall, Chennai, on 23rd January 2023. What strikes the viewer at the outset, is her calm and composed stage presence, unusual in a dancer who is taking early steps in her journey as a performer. From the opening Pushpanjali in Arabhi, invocation to Ganesa, and Arumuga Kauttuvam in Kiravani, to the last Padam in her selection, her engagement with the essence of the composition, and her effective portrayals of the deities and characters, had underlying conviction and sincerity. Flashing smiles with an artificial 'bright' look was not her scene. Neither was the choreography geared to 'wow' moments as is the tendency these days amidst new performers. Committed sadhana with a deep understanding of both movement and presentation, with an emphasis on sharing rather than 'showing' made her endearing as a dancer with individuality and promise.  As a rasika, I imbibed from the performance, rare detail in the expression of Bhakti, and in the portrayal of sringara in the Nrithyopaharam based on the varnam Ati Moham, the Tamizh composition of the Tanjavur Quartet. Assured grace throughout the performance, many of her emphatic statements were made with brevity. Dikshitar's composition Akhilandeswari was in contrast to the padam Indendu vachitivira. The images of the mother beholding her two sons in the first piece and the Nayika hurling one sarcastic comment after another at the Nayaka are both fresh in the mind's eye as embellished, impressive portrayals. Short though the recital was, the combination of pieces created by her spouse, the gifted Venkatakrishnan and some in the tradition of her alma mater Bharata Kalanjali, made up an interesting selection of old and new. Music recorded to professional quality with lovely individual performance was apt accompaniment and left the stage space wholly to the young dancer. Maybe, this is the way to go for dancers to be able to engage in more performance opportunities. It is however, important to get a sound check technical run on the stage before the recital to avoid the 'unsettled' patterns of the dancer that one saw in the very first item. Brindha is endowed with a beautiful face that is capable of expressing a range of emotions. She commands a stage presence that truly grows on one. Her control over the rhythmic dynamics is consistent. The overwhelming impact of her natya is in the holistic rasikatvam that she seems to have for the connect between the word and the movement. One could see the lyrics brought to life in the pieces. Young dancers often communicate exuberance. Brindha is a dancer worth following because of her aesthetic refinement and her endeavour to present new work. She upholds the values and standards of her Gurus, the Dhananjayans, and is an excellent exponent of Venkatakrishnan's delightful compositions of which one should see more. |
